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Joe Maldonado is a poet and mental health professional, author of the poetry collections Subterranean Summer and Skeleton American. His work has also appeared in numerous anthologies, including Remembering Jack Kerouac (National Beat Poetry Foundation, 2022). He served on the council of the Transformative Language Arts Network from 2017-2020 and hosts monthly open mics in New York.. You can follow him on social media, @joemaldonado81 .
Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite
The Beautiful Ugliness of Being is an introspective poetry collection by Joe Maldonado. The titular poem, "The Beautiful Ugliness of Being," offers the point of view of attaining self-awareness and relishing in its existence. "We, the Dreamers" celebrates the ability to dream and create. In "Second Opinion," the author admits regret for past hurt and anger over criticism of their work, finally realizing the value of one's opinion. "Those Three Words" emphasize the significance of the words that make all our lives worth living. "Dear Younger Me" is a nostalgic remembrance of one's young self, offering a few kind words of advice. "Nothing But Flowers" is a poem that envisions a world without humans, where nature can take its course without human intervention.
Joe Maldonado's poems find a way to capture what it means to be human, thriving in a world full of chaos, wonder, beauty, and vibrant life. The Beautiful Ugliness of Being inspires you to be authentic to yourself, urging you to express yourself unabashedly, including all the flaws and strengths that make you human. Every poem is different and brings something unique to the collection. Maldonado uses rhyming and non-rhyming verses with a non-identical structural organization in each poem that makes them distinct, adding more flavors to the reading experience. Although all the poems feel personal, the universal themes make them emotionally resonant for all kinds of readers. Poetry lovers should savor this one.
