THEY SAY THIS IS HOW DEATH CAME INTO THE WORLD

 

"Paul Dickey has published poetry in over a hundred literary journals since 2003, and his book of poetry entitled "They Say This Is How Death Came into the World" contains something for every reader. A professor of Philosophy at Metropolitan Community College in Omaha, Nebraska, Dickey's background knowledge in philosophy appears in his poetry. The themes of his poems vary enough to attract a wide audience of readers, yet manage to tie together extremely well for the publication.

 

The poems in this book are written in free-verse and prose forms. This allows the reader to glide easily through the words, providing them access to Dickey's flowing imagery. Dickey addresses the simple, such as "Mowing the Lawn" (p. 62) and complex, such as "Archaic Torso of Apollo: A Translation of Rainer Maria Rilke" (p. 39) equally, finding beauty and necessity in both."Dickey's imagery paints a portrait for the reader, making it easy to bridge the gap between the actual and implied readers. For example, Dickey uses simple objects to portray the pain of losing a son in a war, seen in his poem "Boys Who Did Not Return." This poem states, "My mind composes itself/ with the material world/ next to me: shattered glass/ of the chicken coop,/ a rotting baseball, all things/ hidden in his hayloft,/ every object a boy can/ imagine and those he can't" (p. 34). Without once mentioning war, Dickey successfully relies on his title to be supported by the avid imagery of hidden treasure never returned to.

 

"Dickey's background in philosophy arises in several of the poems in They Say This Is How Death Came into the World. For example, "Epistemology While Getting Lost in Minneapolis" portrays a disagreement between father and son. Interestingly, throughout this disagreement, the narrator describes the basis for a sound philosophical argument, while becoming grounded by his father. When discussing his father's intentions on writing a paper for "The Philosophical Review," the narrator describes his "lost father...his raised voice, sounding like screaming, speaking his nonsense" (p. 10). This philosophical element attracts a scholarly audience to the poem."

 

Dickey's usage of accessible language weaves with fluent imagery to produce poems relatable to any audience. From personifying truth as a relief pitcher, to discussing Quine, Dickey is the bridge between gaps of reader preference. Aspects of humor arise in several poems, yet rarely as the dominant theme. Dickey addresses a life of observations, each reflected in free-verse or prose poetry, and each is crafted delicately to attune to the readers' senses. If something in this world interests you, Dickey's "They Say This Is How Death Came into the World" will have a poem to spark your intrigue."

 

Review published by the Nebraska Territory Review, 3/12/12 by David Z. Drees.