I Am Wings: Poems about Love ANNOTATION
A collection of poems chronicling a relationship between two young people, from first glance through final goodbye to the stirrings of possible new love.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
From tantalizing first glance to poignant final good-bye, thirty-three poems evoke aspects of love with cinematic clarity and unexpected depth.
FROM THE CRITICS
School Library Journal
Gr 7-12-Written from the point of view of a smitten young man, these 33 short, free-verse poems narrate the ups and downs of a teen romance. They begin with the ``First Look'' at the high school lockers, move to the beach, and conclude with the painful realization that the girl has lost interest in him. The last poem, ``Seeds,'' suggests that the cycle is about to begin again. The collection includes an allusion to homosexual love in ``Justin and Frank,'' which the writer observes with sensitivity and discretion. While this book tells a story that has been told before, it does so with fresh images and without clichs. A black-and-white photograph begins each section (``Falling In'' and ``Falling Out'') and provides visual closure. Students will readily identify with this fine book, and fans of Mel Glenn's Back to Class (Clarion, 1988) will find similar satisfaction here.-Judy Greenfield, Rye Free Reading Room, NY
BookList - Hazel Rochman
More dramatic monologue than poetry, these 33 simple pieces make up a kind of short story about a boy falling in and out of love. The short lines, everyday words, and contemporary imagery make this accessible to even reluctant readers; and the spacious design of the book, with clear type and a few photographs (including a cover picture in pink and blue), will lure readers of both sexes to the ever-popular theme. From "First Look" and "First Kiss" to "First Fight" and "Changing Channels," kids will recognize their world. The vignettes are immediate: passing notes in the classroom, talking on the phone, meeting at the beach or the video store, watching cable TV. Occasionally a line astonishes you with sound and sense--for example, when he explores her hand "notch by knuckle" in the movie dark. A few lines rhyme, but mostly the rhythm is casual and conversational, the feeling gentle. This is romance.
Home
