“Mythology Seen Through Metaphor…Word Salad” is a thoughtful often sentimental expression of abstract thought and creative design. The poetry and artistry date from 1991-2013. Emily Sturgill is the highly prolific author/poet/artist of Memoirs of Recalled Madness: a personal account of manic-depressive illness. This is one of the numerous artist chapbooks she has published in addition to her memoir. Sturgill completed her formal education at Wayne State University, Detroit, MI. She earned her BFA, and MFA in Art Education and Therapy.
Beginning this chapbook, Sturgill explains that she has written under various pen names: Eman Nepp, Zen Stupid, Anonymous S. My favorite is her alter-ego Ravin Starr, an emotionally sophisticated, slick, plus size, goth-like girl, with dark lacquered nails, matching lipstick, and lots of handmade jewelry. “Word Salad” is the first poem, which begins with flights of emotion, ideas, challenges of writing at times not making sense. Word Salad, a “mask of metaphor and memory.” A place of emptiness, a theft of speech, is the poem: “Robbery”, which evolves into the graffiti art of “Spray Can”. This, also a reminder of the empty, abandoned, and blighted homes in many Detroit area neighborhoods.
Sturgill likely accompanies her mother-in-law to an overwhelming medical appointment in “The Proposal”. A brief poem about being locked in a busy mental hospital: “Psych Ward” is telling, about laughing hyenas in a disturbing distracting environment. “Reversal of Fortune”: about being trapped in a looking glass with a plus size instead of a size 2. “Heavens Falling”: A free thought of laughter, drumbeats, and song. The touching sensitive memorial poetry for her Mother: “My Guilty Ghost Fever”, “Poem for My Mother”, “Motherless Daughter”, and “Mother Earth”. The last tribute: “Poem for my Father”.
Favorite art works include: Abstraction: (pen, ink, 2001), Abstraction of a Dragon: (acrylic painting, 1997), Self Portrait: (oil painting, 2003), Watercolor Landscape: (2013), Blue Light: (acrylic, 1996).
Many thanks and much appreciation to Amazon for the Kindle promotional copy. Giving this a 3* rating of GOOD.
