misled

susan holbrook

Red Deer Press 1999

reviewed by: paulo da costa

This book is best enjoyed with one's clothes off. Slippery words rub against the tongue, slide and rivulet around the lips like dripping ice cream in summer, "does your tongue recoil at mistaken objects, salt for sugar, butter for cheeses, wasabi for toothpaste, potpourri for popcorn, croquettes for coquettes questions for Christian crepes for craps caps for cups tit for tat that's that nought's enough loose lips slink lips."

Choose a place - crown of a tree, the edge of fast moving water - where you'll be comfortable being loud, enjoying the groans, the giggles, the surprises of tongue and language contorting in impossible ways. "Don't burn your britches. I got a whiff that this had to do with friendship somehow, and that there was some connection with liar liar pants on fire."

This is a book to be read aloud. So, while friends are at work leave these poems on their answering machines. And if you think you don't have anyone to read aloud to in bed, just wait... those friends will undoubtedly be calling you back.

©paulodacosta