The Far Mosque

Kazim Ali not only indulges in painful minimalism but also somehow creates vivid images in abstract forms. His works are like conceptualist paintings--each one definable yet cryptic in its own oxymoronic sense. Never have I been blessed to read such poetry, never have i seen technique that resembles a whisper. His verses, sometimes italisized, sometimes not, have sound to them like almost all his "musical" pieces in the book. He is clearly an observer of traditionalist forms, and at times uses the ghazal or other schemes to diversify, angle, and deepen the already stunning affect of his 'lyrics'. The meter and the unique breaks in his poetry resemble his meaning: stripping everything to the raw, essential core. The poems seem choppy--but the whole anthology is a story---and they are all circular, returning to themselves, individually and holistically. Not once did I detect any cynicism, nor did I notice any intended romanticism. It just is. It is comfort food for my heart. EAch reading renders me breathless--every time, (And I am an impatient woman). Excellent work. Worth many, many reads.