Review of Clapping
Posted: 22 Jan 2025, 22:51
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Clapping" by Kristin Law.]
I don’t usually read poetry. Poetry often feels like it is speaking a different language, full of meanings that can change depending on how you look at it. For me, it is like trying to piece together a puzzle where each word holds a thousand interpretations. I often struggle to find what the author is really trying to say, especially since poems tend to say so much in just a few short lines. But this time, I decided to give it a shot and picked up “Clapping: A Collection of Poems” by Kristin Law.
It is a collection of 5 poems: ‘Innocence,’ ‘Blossoming,’ ‘Withering,’ ‘Expansion,’ and ‘Renewal.’ Each poem is rich with imagery and metaphor. In my view, the first poem, ‘Innocence,’ reflects on the journey of growing up and the inevitable loss of innocence that comes with it. The poet is reflecting on how innocence once lost can never truly be regained. Life experiences, mistakes, choices, etc., shape who we become, and this change is a part of growing up and understanding the world in a deeper, sometimes harder way. It is something many of us can relate to as we move through different phases of life.
In the poem ‘Blossoming,’ the speaker navigates through moments of desire, societal pressure, and intimate connections, illustrating how life and love, while magical and alluring, are also full of contradictions and complexities. This poem contains borderline sensual images. The third poem, ‘Withering,’ is my favorite, and I could relate to the feeling of it more. A feeling of disconnection from everything, lost in life’s journey, with no guidance or help, fear of leading to disaster. Like not knowing your place in the world, searching for meaning amidst the chaos. This is also a feeling many of us can relate to. This poem has darker philosophical elements.
The fourth poem, ‘Expansion,’ speaks of growth and transformation, both personal and societal. It takes us through different historical and cultural settings, looking at different aspects of life, from war to recovery, from oppression to liberation, and from chaos to order. The poem reflects on resilience and the transformative power of time. The fifth and final poem, ‘Renewal,’ explores a deeper sense of understanding, acceptance, and peace. Life is full of challenges, and the speaker acknowledges the difficult and unclear paths they have traveled. Things that were once confusing and disorganized are now clearing up, and a sense of clarity is found. A sense of peace and enlightenment, a feeling of unity with the universe.
I felt like all five poems explain different stages of life. First, beginning with innocence and how life teaches us many lessons. And then the longing for connection, and the relief and complexity that come along with it. Then the feeling of confusion and disconnection that happens before the stage of realization settles in. We reflect on who we are and how far we have come. And then, at last, the experience it brings, that is, the renewal. This is what I got from reading the poems. In a way, the poem gave me a bit of solace and hope. And there is nothing I dislike about this book, and the editing is also impeccable. I rate this book 5 out of 5 for the rich experience it gave me.
Give it a try if you are a fan of poetry, and who knows, you might even come up with a whole new meaning for these poems. Like I said earlier, poetry speaks to everyone differently, and each reader can interpret it in their own way.
******
Clapping
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
I don’t usually read poetry. Poetry often feels like it is speaking a different language, full of meanings that can change depending on how you look at it. For me, it is like trying to piece together a puzzle where each word holds a thousand interpretations. I often struggle to find what the author is really trying to say, especially since poems tend to say so much in just a few short lines. But this time, I decided to give it a shot and picked up “Clapping: A Collection of Poems” by Kristin Law.
It is a collection of 5 poems: ‘Innocence,’ ‘Blossoming,’ ‘Withering,’ ‘Expansion,’ and ‘Renewal.’ Each poem is rich with imagery and metaphor. In my view, the first poem, ‘Innocence,’ reflects on the journey of growing up and the inevitable loss of innocence that comes with it. The poet is reflecting on how innocence once lost can never truly be regained. Life experiences, mistakes, choices, etc., shape who we become, and this change is a part of growing up and understanding the world in a deeper, sometimes harder way. It is something many of us can relate to as we move through different phases of life.
In the poem ‘Blossoming,’ the speaker navigates through moments of desire, societal pressure, and intimate connections, illustrating how life and love, while magical and alluring, are also full of contradictions and complexities. This poem contains borderline sensual images. The third poem, ‘Withering,’ is my favorite, and I could relate to the feeling of it more. A feeling of disconnection from everything, lost in life’s journey, with no guidance or help, fear of leading to disaster. Like not knowing your place in the world, searching for meaning amidst the chaos. This is also a feeling many of us can relate to. This poem has darker philosophical elements.
The fourth poem, ‘Expansion,’ speaks of growth and transformation, both personal and societal. It takes us through different historical and cultural settings, looking at different aspects of life, from war to recovery, from oppression to liberation, and from chaos to order. The poem reflects on resilience and the transformative power of time. The fifth and final poem, ‘Renewal,’ explores a deeper sense of understanding, acceptance, and peace. Life is full of challenges, and the speaker acknowledges the difficult and unclear paths they have traveled. Things that were once confusing and disorganized are now clearing up, and a sense of clarity is found. A sense of peace and enlightenment, a feeling of unity with the universe.
I felt like all five poems explain different stages of life. First, beginning with innocence and how life teaches us many lessons. And then the longing for connection, and the relief and complexity that come along with it. Then the feeling of confusion and disconnection that happens before the stage of realization settles in. We reflect on who we are and how far we have come. And then, at last, the experience it brings, that is, the renewal. This is what I got from reading the poems. In a way, the poem gave me a bit of solace and hope. And there is nothing I dislike about this book, and the editing is also impeccable. I rate this book 5 out of 5 for the rich experience it gave me.
Give it a try if you are a fan of poetry, and who knows, you might even come up with a whole new meaning for these poems. Like I said earlier, poetry speaks to everyone differently, and each reader can interpret it in their own way.
******
Clapping
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon