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 Cracks
in the Mirror – Stimulating Poems of Adventurous by a
World Traveler
Reviewed by Joseph S.
Spence, Sr., Trilogy Poetic Literature and Prose
Cracks in the Mirror is an exceptional book of poems
consisting of a variety of poetry styles and forms with
a unique tone of articulation by Jan Oskar Hansen. This
recent 2009 issue has some connections to a very serious
yet humorous poem in his 2008 publication, Homecoming…Prose,
Poetry and Senryu.
Though not an oxymoron, one should be able to draw
several similarities between the two poems and both books.
The
first poem which has the title of the book “Cracks in the
Mirror,” is parallel to the poem “Misfit,” in
Jan’s 2008 Homecoming book. Cracks
in the Mirror highlights his ship sailing away without
him. He is now
stuck in a hotel room which he has to leave; however, he
needs a drink or two first. Likewise in “Misfit,” he
is with a bunch of fancy suits wearing lawyers; however,
after changing his clothing back to his seafaring outfit
he sees his boat leaving the pier.
He tastes blood while running to his boat, but too
late, it left him. Upon
walking back to the fancy restaurant where the lawyers
were, they saw him as a waiter and request that he brings
drinks to them. After
his boat left in Cracks
in the Mirror, he held two fingers in the air leaving
one to wonder which two.
The answer should be some what obvious.
Poor Hansen!
Cracks
in the Mirror has a variety of scenes from many places
where Jan has apparently set foot.
This volume will take the reader to Spain; the
Caribbean; Paris in September where it’s melancholia; a
wedding in Brussels; September in Norway where he
remembers walking home after a drink of whiskey; Egypt and
the Suez Canal; Portugal in spring, where the snow is pure
and God’s footsteps are visible; Rome, where a Roman
Centurion soldier encounters unseen terrorists; Argentina,
where he hides in the belly of a dead horse; and Denmark,
where he enjoys dancing with a maiden of brown eyes and a
promising glint. These and many more incredible and
memorable adventures await your eyes and mind.
Family
is always close to Jan’s heart while sibling rivalry
seems to permeate. Relationships
are a part of his poems, which read like a novel
concerning his family members. For example, his uncle who
leaves his room only to eat then disappears one day; his
mother who rides a bike with him to the beach in the
summer, purchase ice cream for him, and gives him a hug;
his father in “Ash & Victory” who drinks straight
from the bottle and slams the door; and his brother the
Swiss who is unfavorable and speaks his mind in letters
oozing resentment. This family is certainly funny and is
reminiscent of a movie.
The
thoughts of war are not far from Jan’s mind, since he
knows that war affects the lives of many. For instance,
the following poems state the case: “The Forgotten
Remembered,” gives an excellent example of war
remembrance. “Soldier Hero,” brings one to grips with
post mortem medals as soft as plaster on ulcers of grief.
The thought of suicide bombers who think they will live
forever is shocking. “The Ghost,” brings to life the
imagery of the ending of a war and going home to eat. A
“Child of War,” who sits on a steed and leads men of
iron into oblivion is quite a scene. The “Meaning of
Life” regarding how people ache while swords swing will
have you on the edge of your seat. The issues of “US
Soldiers” still in
Iraq
after five years, representing brave working kids who are
subject of manipulation will stir your thoughts. In
“Inconsequent Calamity of War,” we find a janitor who
is too old to serve in the navy to see the world, which
will make you wonder.
While reading these pieces the symbology and
imagery will jump right out at you, and are quite vivid.
The
use of various forms of poems tells many stories in this
volume. The
narrative poem form flows with ease of reading; a variety
of senryu pieces consisting of
three lines will stimulate the senses of sight and
sound; visualization comes to life in the sestet form of
seven lines; and the quatrain form of four lines are also
potent in their impact.
Some of the pieces also flow like prose poetry with
the enhancement of T. S. Elliot.
Interestingly enough, T. S. Elliot is a part of the
conversation involving the poem, “Versifiers, Wine and
Nature,” with has some wonderful thoughts.
This
is an excellent volume of poems by Jan Hansen. One must
read it to appreciate it.
Distinguishable techniques enhancing the poems
include: alliteration, assonance, climax, character,
antagonist, figurative language, concrete detail, figure
of speech, rhyming, mood, and metaphor, just to name a
few.
One
may learn more about Jan Oskar Hansen by visiting: http://cyberwit.net/oskar.htm
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