Inseminating the Elephant by Lucia Perillo

I suspect this stunning collection of poems often catches readers unaware. Perillo ranges widely (and sometimes wildly) in her choice of subject matter, using irony tinged with humor to carry us along.

It's strange to find an ode to shoplifting, but here it is, in 'A Romance.' And 'First Epistle of Lucia to Her Old Boyfriends' similarly gives readers a pause (reflect: how close our own sentiments?) Perillo evokes 'Martha,' the last of millions of passenger pigeons who died in 1914 to 'wonder what else could go.' (And I recall Marguerite Young's depiction of that event.)

The title poem appears late in the book. Even if we have seen
the author's acknowledgements that include thanks to her doctors and to 'the inmates at the Washington (state) Corrections Center for Women, who trained my dog' we are caught by
'now I've alluded to my body that grows ever more inert-- better not overdo lest you get scared: the sorrowing world is way too big.'

Perillo is wheelchair bound but her mind, heart and pen seem to know no limits. This is a stimulating selection of poems and a true gift to its readers. ( )