Wake Wake Wake

The poems in this collection have a strong sense of place. Each poem sees the power, the sound of a location--a physical location or a place in the body or mind. Poems such as "The Place" show this most clearly. These are also poems of observation. Nieman is able to take the everday minutia and focus it into our frame to make the reader notice the everday for its regular beauty but also the way Nieman is able to make the ordinary new. My favorite two poems are "Covet" and "When Its Over". I am quoting the following lines from "When Its Over" to show you the simple and effective style of the poem: I turn everything off twice, / each faucet, every switch, / my fingers lingering on the porcelain. This is a nice, short collection that could have a wide readership. If somenoe is looking to get a start reading modern poetry this is a good place to start.

Valerie Nieman's poetry in Wake Wake Wake is written in intelligent, and beautiful language and tells a story of everyday life in a brilliant way. The writing flows nicely, and keeps the reader involved, seeing the images evoked by the poems, but also seeing deeper than that into Valerie Nieman's writing. My favorite lines in the whole book were "She penciled entries on the pale/machine-drawn lines of her journal," in the fantastic poem "Expedition" (one of many great poems). Even people who aren't usually big fans of poetry will enjoy this collection, as it speaks in language that, while elegant and lovely, can still be understood and appreciated by everyone (unlike some of the poetry we've all probably had to read in school). Wake Wake Wake is a quick read as well, at ninety-six pages, that readers are sure to devour in just one sitting. Armchair Interviews says: Poetry about everyday life.