VERTICAL RIVER 

Review

There's a boldness I love, which perks up the eyes and ears in these days full of indistinguishable detritus from large and small press alike.

Bargen leaves a strong impression.  This is from the opening of "No Matter How Hard We Try": 

The wind is really nothing:

a few overheated or under cooled spaces

hyperventilating, pushed this way

or that by a few points of pressure.

Maybe it throws around a little rain

or hail at the edges, and the swizzle

stick of lightning mixes winds itself

up into a coil sucking up chickens

and yachts.

There's that uncommonly strong imagery that appeals, the layering .  But it's moved and blended, stirred, by skillful enjambment and language choice...