Let’s Tunnel Away (2016) Review
4/5: A Perfect Beginning Collection of Poems
-For the Uncensored!
As Dylan Thomas said, “A good poem is a contribution to reality. The world is never the same once a good poem has been added to it. A good poem helps to change the shape of the universe, helps to extend everyone’s knowledge of himself and the world around him.”[1] With poetry, it’s a subjective question. Everyone, even if they don’t like poetry, have a favorite poet. Poetry, to me, is about a plethora of interests, and never focused on genre. The outcome is that nothing you see in poetry is meant to create that simple feeling. Usually when I see a poets thick volumes of poetry I’m like, “Ugh.” But it does depend on person to person, and poet to poet. But Chloe Pelletier, a New York based poet, actress, is something else. A mix of modern poetry and perceptive modern qualities. Usually I have a deep distrust of actors who write, but Ms. Pelletier’s poetry is definitely a surprise.
Published in 2016, through Amazon, “200 poems” is essentially that. A few poems caught my eye. “Invisible Man” the 21st poem has something to say. An invisible man, just leaving prison. But he decides to rob a laundromat, “without smelling the panties.” That’s how I know this was written by a woman. My male instincts would have written a different poem, like if Charles Bukowski had written the poem, that is. It’s just the way a robber to a woman thinks. Is that wishful thinking? A little bit, but it’s not my poem. Just an observation.
Dating Ad, the 25th poem, is quite hilarious. The line “Can we go somewhere empty” makes me think about dating, in general. Most women often look for places to go with someone where they can’t be bothered. Like being alone on a street. “Just tastes and lovers. Not too aftertasted.” That made me smile a little.
“An Ex Moving Around Me” is something that if you didn’t read into it, it would have created no feeling at all. And you can almost just breeze through Ms. Pelletier’s work if you don’t stop and consider the levity and sadness inside it.
The way I would have created epic sonnets is missing, but the lines, “And Clicking, And Selecting” almost makes me think about how someone is dealing with grief. An understanding of what it takes to edit down someone’s feelings about getting over someone. Maybe the less said about it the better. “Short bursts of tapping And backspacing Clicking and dragging again To the garbage bin Then letting go.”
Somehow, I could feel that breath of choice in the words, and never compromising scale for pages. Over what the poem had to be instead of pouring over emotions about someone who didn’t seem like they were worth it. By 31 “Heat” this type of poem resembles something almost like Michael Ondaatje. Beds are repeated throughout these poems. But I guess it makes me wonder if Ms. Pelletier has ever slept on a floor, before on Christmas eve. Because I have.
Because beds, to lonely people, can often feel like sleeping on floors. Or maybe those who don’t flip the mattress, maybe. But the line “refusing to touch me” makes me feel like this is less about love than it is about being in love. She describes it as a “lump” which can only feel painful, as she lends her visual imagery to her “creature.”
Zombie Lady, Keys, Sleeping Grown up, are all great and understated. It’s like reading someone’s graduation thesis from a best friend. When I’m reading “Rationalizing Fire Sex” I’m definitely in agreement. Blasphemy is so well balanced, tight, controlled, and so beautiful. Pearl of Focus “Black tapioca of the brain” speaks so much dialogue in one single phrase. Blank TV 2002-2016 is a poetic form story as if the ghost from grudge was in a love story. “I kind of miss her And want someone like her in a lover.” I love that phrase. Got me feeling some type of way, Ms. Pelletier, for a homicidal ghost. And Teenage Suburban Calm is almost written by a master, that it’s almost so moving but never clouded with extra imagery.
It makes me remember that very subtle tense degree of placed words in a poem. Michael Ondaatje does this well, and Ms. Pelletier definitely knows where to place her words. If a gripe has to be said, it’s because she didn’t make over 500 poems. But that would spoil the fun out of the meaning, and title, too. It’s a little funny how some poems takes place in bed, but I hope to see more poems like Blank TV 2002-2016. The brevity and personal quality of this poem for me, as a horror and sci-fi junkie, was inspiring. Overall, a perfect beginning collection of poems. Can’t wait for what Ms. Pelletier writes next.
You can follow her on Twitter, https://twitter.com/ChloePees, where you can order a book directly. She’s also on Instagram: @chloe_is_on_insta_wtf.
Final Analysis: 4/5
[1] https://bookriot.com/30-quotes-about-poetry/. Found 05.31.2022.
-Louis Bruno is the author of more than 19 books, including, The Michael Project, The Michael Project: Book 2: The Lost Children of Eve, Thy Kingdom Come, The Disintegrating Bloodline Part 2: Chaos, The Data Chase, The Disintegrating Bloodline part 3: Solvè, The Disintegrating Bloodline (and the original text re-released in 2019), Apocalypse Soldier, The Data Chase, Selection: The First Book of the Life and Death Saga, and Blinking Eyes: The Second Book of the Life and Death Saga, Hierarchy of Dwindling Sheep, The City of Sand, The God of Curiosity, To the Moon and Back, The Villain Lives and The Villain Lives: The Divided Pinpoint, Come Home, Young One. He has a Bachelor of Arts in English from University of Phoenix. His books can be found on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Lulu. He can be found on Gab, https://gab.com/thereallouistbruno, Minds https://www.minds.com/lbruno8063/. Instagram @lbrruno8063 and @louisbrunoofficialbook. Our Freedom Book https://www.ourfreedombook.com/thereallouistbruno17. Twitter: https://twitter.com/LouisBr88881650. He has written for the Intellectual Conservative and Ephemere. His newest book, The Voices Are Alive is out now: https://www.lulu.com/en/us/shop/louis-bruno/the-voices-are-alive/hardcover/product-mvggdg.html?page=1&pageSize=4. Also, if you can’t subscribe so that you can get members only content, please be sure to share the articles, as well. If you do Subscribe and pay, as well so you can get my articles in your inbox every time, and access to the paid articles that some readers won’t get to see. If that doesn’t tickle your pickle, I am also selling merch from t spring, if you want to help support me in other ways. I sell hoodies, shirts, phone cases, and trying to find something there loved ones would like. Link is here: https://thereallouistbruno.creator-spring.com/listing/too-many-strings-not-enough. https://thereallouistbruno.creator-spring.com/listing/duck-fuckery. Every little bit helps in the war against Big Tech. Thanks for reading.