M.
EARL SMITH Reviews
Madison Hatta’s Book of Unrelenting Rhymes, or: Madisonnets, Volume 2 by April Lynn James
(The Moonstone Press, 2015)
Full disclosure: I became aware of
the insani-tea (her term, not mine, as I am not delightfully whimsical in a way
that allows me to create such language) that is Madison’s work through my work
correspondence with her conduit, April James, whom I share a delightful working
relationship with at the Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books, and
Manuscripts at the University of Pennsylvania. While I must thank chance and
circumstance for bringing her work to my attention, let me assure you that my views
on her work are not shaded in any way, shape, or form by our working
relationship.
For, you see, good work stands on
its own, and, just like the first volume of Madisonnets, this volume takes the
reader on a trip that so, well, fun,
that they can’t be faulted for getting lost in poetry. Don’t, however, think
for one second that this is just a set of rhymes written for the sake of the
Mad Hatter’s tea parties. No, what April manages to do, in this round, is put
the talents of Madison to use to tell her tale, even if there’s moments where
the introspection is heavier than expected. (After all, who else can find a way
to write “because at such a trying time one is hard-pressed/to find a silver
lining and not be distressed” in a poem entitled At your formal execution?). Never, however, does Madison allow
April to lose sight of the futility of the matter. In one poem, the duo writes
“I’ve 2 BAs, 2 MAs, and a PhD” (an enormous accomplishment on April’s part),
only for Madison, it seems, to jump in and proclaim “Good Heavens! I’ve given
myself the fifth degree!” In those moments that April finds herself becoming
too serious, to critical, too introspective, Madison always comes ‘round to
make sure that the primary purpose of this volume (fun) is not forgotten. Thus,
even heartbreaking rhymes like “It has happened before – they work to gain your
trust/they use you, amuse you, then leave you in the dust/And you stand there
bleary-eyed, so broken-hearted/vowing never again to be outsmarted!” are
brought back to heel with an unrelenting Madion-esque flourish (“leaving tears
and fears to become all that one must.”)
Of course, with Madison, there’s
always time for tea! In this volume, the poem Won’t you please sit down and have a drink with me? pays homage to
the art of tea-drinking, even if, by Madison’s admission, it’s her own special
blend of “Insani-Tea!” Given how hard Madison has worked to both delight and
entertain us, it’s hard to say no when she quips “for its always tea time when
you spend time with me.” I’m sure our thirst will remain unquenched waiting for
her next volume of seven-lined couplets, brewed up for our enjoyment…and our
thoughtful consideration.
[Editor’s
Note: M. Earl Smith’s review of Volume 1 is HERE.]
*****
From works for children to the macabre, from
academic research to sports journalism, and from opinion essays to the erotic,
M. Earl Smith is a writer that seeks to stretch the boundaries of genre and
style. A native of Southeast Tennessee, M. Earl moved to Ohio at nineteen and,
with success, reinvented himself as a writer after parting ways with his wife
of eleven years. After graduating from Chatfield College (with highest honors)
in 2015, M. Earl became the first student from Chatfield to matriculate at an
Ivy League institution when he enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania, in
Philadelphia. The proud father of two wonderful children (Nicholas and Leah),
M. Earl studies creative writing and history at UPenn. When he’s not studying,
M. Earl splits time between Philadelphia, Cincinnati, and Chattanooga, with
road trips to New York City, Wichita, Kansas, and Northampton, Massachusetts in
between.
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