Why I Love Bob Hicok

[twosnoos]

WEEBLE WOBBLE BUT THEY DON'T FALL DOWN

I know a woman about to lose her house. 
It's not missing, she's certain 
where the water shut-off valve is 
and which stair squeaks when she goes up 
at ten to rise at four. I promised myself 
I wasn't going to do this, no one listens 
to this kind of poem anyway, 
it might as well be a sermon or the side 
of a cereal

Comments

[mojgani]

that is beautiful and heartache

[twosnoos]

I love Bob Hicok's poetry because of its ability to transport and yet still harshly grounded. He is constantly trying to work things through with his poetry -- and how he works things out is floated upon such incredible imagery -- and yet is always underscoring it with the helpless of poetry in the face of true hardship and tragedy. It's a crazy humanizing balance. I don't know how he does it, but I love reading it.

[mojgani]

also, that he is somehow able to offer up these images that seem abstract in like the connective tissue? if that makes sense. while like you said still being grounded. it's like it's abstract/ethereal while being completely tangible at the same time, this poem rolls out like a film it's so tangible at times. i dont know, it's hard to describe. but it's lovely.