Consolation Miracle

Readers are treated to an exploration of how language needs to be and can be revitalized in a postmodern world dominated by surface-level meanings--the simulacra of television ads, Hollywood blockbusters, and theme-park spectacles. Davidson's writing ranges over many geographies and histories (those of India, Japan, Italy, and Greece, to name just a few); in addition, it enters the tightest of psychological spaces, while also exploring the infinite expanses of outer space. All this ranging seeks to show us the restorative power of language. Consolation Miracle locates itself both inside and outside a world of overabundant representations that threaten us with entropy and ennui. Time and again, the threat of boredom rears its eternally lolling head, forcing the poet to dip into his rich lexicon, his arsenal of unusual, restorative words in order to stave off emptiness, linguistic and spiritual death. A first-rate collection both to read and teach.

Chad Davidson's uses everyday objects in a way that gives them more importance and significance. The author's technique is to teach history, interpret it and show details in a more contemporary style, rather than just spit out information the way a textbook does. A pear, starfish, lemon, and other object used in everyday life are given a new meaning. How the were once viewed as dull and mundane are now seen in a different and interesting light. 'Consolation Miracle' gives the reader another approach to learn about the ordinary things we use and see on a daily basis. This however is not Davidson's only purpose; he also wants to place the reader in the situation he is talking about through his diction and detail. Some of his word choice is not common day vocabulary but this only makes the poems better. This is a good book because Davidson is able to make someone learn new things just by having them read his poems. Things we take for granted are now given new appreciation and the reader realizes this. Becoming more aware of one's surroundings and historic origins is never something to frown upon and Davidson makes the voyage much easier.

Only Pablo Neruda can be compared to Davidson's celebrations of the objects of ordinary life in such a way that I have to throw the book down after each poem and sigh, let out exclamation points and whimperings of jealousy before continuing to the next poem. When I finish all the poems, I read them over and over again, often shaking my head at every line in disbelief of such brilliance. Consolation Miracle is charming and sexy. What a poet. What a book.

A friend recently sent me a crude, tattered chapbook entitled "Space" by Chad Davidson. It was a long lyric - the daunting kind that usually finds its way under the stack for another day. But for some reason the gods smiled on me that day and I turned the page to one of the most thought-provoking and profoundly beautiful reads in a long while. I traced that chapbook to this Chad's first book, "Consolation Miracle" - unquestionably a contemporary playmaker in a classical, throwback jersey.

If you're reading this, you have an interest in poetry, and if you have an interest in poetry, the good kind, the dynamic and moving kind, you should own this book. You'll be lucky to get a first printing. There is a sly wisdom in these poems about the things of this world as remarkable as what we find in Richard Wilbur. In fact, the lines are as well-wrought as Wilbur. Considering Davidson's authority, his ability to teach us so much fact, history, and trivia, we are reminded of the old standards: of Auden, Lowell, or Bishop. But the poems seem to have a contemporary sheen all their own. The long poem "Space" is one of the few contemporary long lyrics worth reading. Consolation Miracle is a mature collection (a minor miracle?) in a time when so many poets are settling for "poetry" or "the idea of a poem" rather than poems, when poets are praising artifice rather than art. It might be the strongest first book of poetry in the last ten years.