Stephen B. Wiley’s First Book of Poetry Review: HERO ISLAND
Poet Stephen B. Wiley’s first book of poetry, Hero Island, reflects tender snapshots and summaries that recall various stages of his life as a young man working on a farm in New Jersey, the summer vacations he spent with his family in Northern Vermont and its positive stance. we live.
His graceful mastery of language magically explores and brings to life topics as varied as the shovel we’re reluctant to part with, city life, the opening of the summer cabin, the peeling of corn, Albert Einstein, and the world federation. , and the most important experience as the death of a loved one.
They are all composed with much introspection and a sincere palette of words that are easily accessible to even the inexperienced poetry reader.
Particularly moving and deeply impactful is “Going,” where Wiley portrays the passing of his ninety-four-year-old father, something I personally recently experienced with the passing of my father-in-law. The unadorned spoken language ending of the poem poignantly describes her inner feelings:
“I knew my father would not die
Though I leaned over her bed
and we embraced with a kiss
while I was going.”
Above all, Wiley’s strength is that his poems are characterized by a sense of wonder and nostalgia that pervades his reflections, which is neither sad nor frustrating, as is often the case with so many poets.
Furthermore, the descriptions are natural and fresh, reverberating with vitality, as exemplified in the first two stanzas of his poem To My Hands:
“Yes, yes, I admire your solo work.
how do you throw a ball
write your name
tip your hat
And I’m proud that things are named after you
giving a helping hand
handing over your old clothes
even handing over something you shouldn’t have”
Quite notable is Wiley’s remarkable ability with language, perhaps attributable to his legal training. When I interviewed him and asked him how this had affected his poetry writing, his succinct response was “Words are the object of law, spoken words and written words, and the precision of language is the most important thing. Poetry is based on the same strengths. That sums up the poetic style of Stephen B. Wiley.
Although, I must admit, I initially opened Wiley’s poetry book with some trepidation, my only complaint, coming to the last poem, was that I didn’t have enough of it. I hope that Hero Island just marks the beginning of a long and creative career.