Boehm’s subject matter ranges and intrigues. So many voices, like the many heads of Mombi. Figures of literary canon crop up, with appearances by King Midas, Lewis Carroll and Elizabeth Bishop. Frequently in a retro mode, Boehm has a preoccupation with outdated science and the propriety of another age. Think of titles such as “A is for Atom—An Instructional Film (1952)”, “a Bird, a Plane, a Man” or “How to Use the Commodore, 1982”, which manufacture a fantastical America of yesteryear, and manage to be both nostalgic and never more than a shade away from sinister. I love the old-school geekiness.
Read the full review in The Lake, June 2017
These poems fluctuate between intense personal moments such as quietly mourning a man still living: “When his whimper finally breaks, /a ring of light hides everything”, to wider shared experiences as described in his poem ‘Clubbers’. Unatnticipated meanings arise and Davies leaves ample space for the readers’ own interpretations. A striking collection, full of vitality and enjoyment of the poetic craft.
