Take Me to the Water by Irene Vázquez
Publication date: 2022
Irene Vázquez's collection, "Take Me to the Water," skillfully weaves together various themes, offering readers a nuanced exploration of love, environmental challenges, and personal reflections. Irene's exploration of the multifaceted facets of love unveils a rich emotional landscape, while her poignant reflections on environmental issues add layers of depth to the collection.
In Aubade with Creek Bed, the poet presents a rich and evocative exploration of doubt, desire, and the transformative power of connection. The poem skillfully navigates the complexities of identity, lineage, and personal history. The imagery, particularly the metaphor of light leaking from the body, adds a layer of mystery and intensity to the emotional landscape. The mention of hurricane symbolism and the red spray paint mark the speaker's defiance and resilience. The poem successfully captures a sense of yearning and the potential for profound connection.
"Sonnet with Compost Bin" delves into themes of decay, self-loathing, and the cyclical nature of life. The use of a compost bin as a metaphor for personal growth and transformation is inventive. The poem skillfully weaves together elements of personal experience, anxiety, and discarded memories. The dream sequence adds a surreal quality, emphasizing the themes of rebirth and regeneration. The use of a sonnet structure adds a classical touch to the contemporary themes explored.
Bathed in soil, my god-parts disassemble,
rot, make room for maggot life.
In go eggshells, cucumber peels,
corncobs shucked empty,
the mornings I pinched & pulled my belly
as soon as I woke, my sixteen-year-old
rancid-talkback-turned-cruelty, all the gnats
that flooded the kitchen, undiagnosed anxiety,
every I’m sorry I never received,
the coat I lost at the party B brought me to, so many
coee grounds, twenty-three years brimming
with runaway energy & shouldered need.
"Repast" is a poignant exploration of family, tradition, and abundance. The United Nations metaphor beautifully encapsulates the diversity within the family. The descriptions of holiday cooking and the preparation for floods create a vivid atmosphere. The poem elegantly captures the significance of shared meals and the enduring strength of familial bonds.
“Take Me to the Water”, not only invites readers to immerse themselves in the profound emotions of the human journey but also prompts contemplation on the interconnectedness of humanity with its surroundings. Moreover, this poetic collection showcases Irene's adept use of language, powerful imagery, and nuanced exploration of complex themes. The collection is both emotionally resonant and thought-provoking, offering a unique perspective on identity, love, environmental concerns, and the interplay between personal and societal issues. Do give this charming poetic collection a read!
- Rochak Agarwal ( Author of Beneath The Words: A book of thoughtful book reviews, Cyberwit.net )
Author Bio
Irene Vázquez is a Black Mexican American poet, journalist, and editor. Irene graduated from Yale with a BA in Ethnicity, Race, and Migration and English. At Yale, Irene was a recipient of the John Hubbard Curtis Prize and was selected for the Yale Student Poets 2021 reading as part of the Yale Collection of American Literature reading series. In Spring 2022, Irene was a Brooklyn Poets workshop fellow. Irene’s works have appeared or are forthcoming in Muzzle, the Texas Observer, and the Hennepin Review, among others. By day, Irene edits books about feisty twelve-year olds at Levine Querido. Mostly Irene likes drinking coee, impulse-buying books, and using the word capacious. Irene’s work can be found at www.irenevazquez.com.