NEW HOPE INTERNATIONAL REVIEW

An independent small press poetry review

NHI independent review
VANNA TESSIER: PEPPERMINT NIGHT
Broken Jaw Press
Box 596 Stn A,
Fredericton,
NB,
E3B 5A6,
Canada
ISBN 1 896647 83 9
$13.95 [Canada; $10 USA]

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VANNA TESSIER: PEPPERMINT NIGHT

Unusual shape — almost square — but a terrific collection of poetry. Vanna Tessier has an amazing range, from the cosmic sweep of the opening poem, MOONSCAR:

 	a constellation's dare
 	flagging down
 	Sagittarius
 	      sharpening Cupid's arrow
 	its cue
 	incandescence
 	etched against our midnight
right back down to earth in PACK A DAY, in which a bully shoves his way to the front of the queue so he can buy his cigarettes:
	he chews at the cig
	a weapon dangling
	from the corner of his mouth
Vanna Tessier has the true poet's ability to make poetry out of anything, snapshots of life — a rock group in JAMMING:
	the guitarist kneels by the drums
	doesn't belong here on earth
or a visit to an ancient site in A POMPEI PILGRIMAGE:
	a girl alone in her bed

	her dream trapped by molten lava
	an abandoned nightmare
	biting into raw stone
or a man at home in his environment, IN BROWN LACED-UP BOOTS:
	it's up to him to climb the steep slope
	that leads to the top

	the horse shakes its mane
	& neighs
	its tail whips the rancher's face

	boots squish
	dripping water
	everything's going his way today
I don't think there's a duff poem in this excellent collection — it looks pretty good, too.

reviewer: John Francis Haines.