Duane
Simolke has discovered the work of Brian E. Bengtson
in this issue with his review of
First Chill: a collection of poetry
  First Chill: A Collection of Poetry
by Brian E. Bengtson With “First Chill,” Nebraskan poet Brian E. Bengston establishes himself as a unique and passionate voice for Omaho, gay men, anyone facing HIV, and anyone who ever felt loneliness or longing. He celebrates all those people and more in this diverse volume, separated into five distinct sections. “I. NEBRASKA” begins the book with images of Bengston’s state and its people. These poems mix physical details like streets, buildings, or nature with internal longings. “II. Names” reveals Bengston’s ability to empathize with others and listen to their dreams. The people differ as much as the forms his poems take. “III. T-Cells” reveals Bengston’s personal struggle with HIV, as well as with HIV medications. It also reveals courage, hope, and frustration. This section includes my favorite poem in the entire book, “Standing at the Edge of the Quilt.” That poem involves the AIDS quilt. “IV. Letters” includes poems that literally sound like letters. The recipients vary from Bengston’s family members to an author of graphic novels. “V. First Chill” features the most erotic and emotional poems of this collection. Even more than in the other sections, Bengtson keeps the readers off guard and can change the feel of an entire poem with the last line or two. This section provides a satisfying conclusion to a book that I would suggest for poetry lovers everywhere. Duane Simolke Author of the West Texas fiction collection The Acorn Stories and the science fiction adventure Degranon. Editor and co-author of The Acorn Gathering: Writers Uniting Against Cancer. http://DuaneSimolke.Com |
 Actor,
playwright and poet, BRIAN. E. BENGTSON is a native of Omaha, Nebraska
and has been featured in many national Gay/Lesbian magazines, and
HIV/AIDS journals such as HURAKAN, DAVID'S PLACE, BAY WINDOWS, and
POETRY MOTEL. His first one-act play, FAGS IN THE MALL, was
originally produced by the Crawlspace Theatre in New Orleans in
1991. He served four and a half years as Poetry Editor for THE NEW
VOICE OF NEBRASKA (the state's oldest and longest-running G/L/B/T
magzines until it folded in 1998). HIs first chapbook, entitled GAY. .
.SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED was published by Lone Willow Press in 1995. He
now has a new book of poetry, entitled FIRST CHILL (published through
PublishAmerica)http://www.brianbengtson.com/ Here is a selection from First Chill... Standing at the Edge of the Quilt I can see the names each time I shut my eye Sometimes the symbol gets soft at all the proverbial edges, when you see the volunteer guard set giant squares free, while dancing on those off-white walkways that connect crack babies with aspiring drag queens and all the delicate kids who had to be careful playing outside with Nebraska farm boys who never thought this one time would count. I feel hollow, like the vacuum of air between strokes on the drum roll when they bring the quilt to rest in my hometown, once a year. I close respectful eyes, and use another bus stop. In the flat frame of mind that doesn't see the glass half full, I question my time to join the tour. I think of who might attend my vigil with shaking hands; how many days may pass between the crumbling of topsoil and the folding of cloth. So I wait at the edge of the Quilt like the kid in the back of class watching the captains choose teams. I watch the bodies dwindle down and wonder when my name will be called. - From the book FIRST CHILL: A COLLECTION OF POETRY, published 2005 by PublishAmerica copyright 2005 by Brian Bengtson |