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Reviewed by C.R. Hurst for Readers' Favorite
I used to hate reading poetry until I found modern free verse that, unlike traditional poetry, doesn’t use standard rhyme, rhythm, or meter. Instead, free verse poetry uses ordinary speech patterns and relies on imagery to drive its meaning. Such is the case of a collection of poetry titled Window and Mirror by Ted Virts. In it, the poet explores life experiences concerning loss, faith, and home with simple images that represent concerns and questions common to all of us. The structure of the poems is simple, deceptively so. Each line has breaks or pauses that mimic natural speech where the poet repeats thoughts, questions statements, or even goes off on a tangent or two, just like most people do when they speak. This direct style creates an intimate connection between Virts and his reader.
One of my favorite poems in the collection is called “Write an ‘I Am’ Poem" in which Ted Virts examines his identity by quoting Descartes’s famous aphorism, “I think therefore I am.” The poet then playfully deconstructs the statement using questions, pointed repetitions, and even a droll reference to Popeye’s declaration, “I am what I am,” leading to a conclusion that unexpectedly reverses Descartes's statement. Another poem, “Soup Cans from My Dad,” recounts a vivid childhood memory of a fatherly lesson concerning public speaking and ends with a poignant tribute to him at his memorial service. By artfully weaving straightforward language and unassuming imagery with genuine sentiment, Window and Mirror reminded me why I love poetry.
