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Oren Wagner: My Life in the Former Colonies Print E-mail
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By Victor Schwartzman, on 12-10-2007 17:25

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Published in : OW! Site Content, Reviews
My Life in the Former Colonies
$5
Oren Wagner
Ego Creek
P.O. Box 397
Zionsville, IN 46077

Reviewed by Christopher Robin

Wagner crafts his prose-poems and haiku with the innocence of a small town bard and the dry sarcasm of a young person who can see bigger worlds and humorous circumstances in his less than cosmopolitan environment. With only a few lines he says a lot: “when light floods/into the window/on your lovely face/I realize why God/illuminated the universe/as his first order of business,” (From ‘Genesis 1:3’). Much like Don Winter’s poetry, Wagner chronicles the lives of wage earners and small town folk, but he is at his best when he is being completely satirical. In ‘How to Disappear Completely (A Guide to Faking Your Own Death),’ he advises: “make personal connections to known felons. People who can do things. People who will raise unwavering suspicion.”

Also good are the very short pieces, such as: “Weekend at my Guru’s” and “Asshole Neighbour.” And when he is self effacing there is much hilarity in his writing: “I received recognition from literally tens of people,” (‘Poet Laureate’). I got to hear this one read aloud and it’s stuck in my mind as one of his best poems. This book consists of three parts: Poems, Problems, & 19 Slender Poems. Wagner is a very talented, inventive writer. I had a good time reading this book and I highly recommend it.

Last update : 12-10-2007 17:25

    
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