skybridge

sarahabein.bsky.social · @sarahabein.bsky.social@bridge.neodb.net

Rated Shift 6/10

Bensel has a talent for creating very specific images that imply multiple meanings. It is easy to see the places in which these poems exist. There is also a definite connection to nature, with birds and water making frequent appearances, and the temperature is often chilly.<br><br>Not every poem was amazing for me, and a few like “Get Nailed” and “Instructions on How to Write a Screenplay” seemed out of place amidst the gritty diner-types and army vets <i>“gettin’ raw.”</i> It’s not that they are bad poems, of course, but they felt like inserted afterthoughts because they were available.<br><br>Still, Bensel has written a very promising chapbook that suggests great writing to come. I do hope we one day see a more expansive collection with her very capable command of theme.<br><br>(My full review appears at <a href="http://www.wordriot.org/archives/4774#">Word Riot</a>.)

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Published 2026-08-18 23:43 UTC · bridged from Atmosphere