Review of Gawdzilla
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Munmun Samanta
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Review of Gawdzilla
[Following is a volunteer review of "Gawdzilla" by Judy Juanita.]
Gawdzilla by Judy Juanita
"When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi
Troubles my sight: somewhere in sands of the desert
A shape with lion body and the head of a man,
A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,"
[W.B.Yeats "The Second Coming"]
"American nuclear weapons testing has created a seemingly unstoppable, dinosaur-like beast Godzilla," ["Gawdzilla" by Judy Juanita, page 16]
Does not the same thought echo in both voices?
As human civilization progresses we are experiencing a new "second coming", the emergence of a beast. But in reality, the beast is within us...the beast is outside…the beast is everywhere. Being powerful with nuclear power we are losing the sanctity of our heart, and getting involved in destroying what we have created. In search of that lost sanctity of life, the author has gone through many a route, from being a member of the Soka Gakkai International-USA to his active participation in the Black Panther Party to his involvement in the Nichiren Soka Gakkai Buddhist. But the onslaught of Godzilla is inevitable. In every sphere of life, we are fighting with Godzilla, be it in our relationship or our worship of God. We are unstable, we are uncertain, and we are confused.
‘Godzilla’ is used as a symbol here, same as for Yeats, the rough beast slouching towards Bethlehem. The beast is an ominous power, a destructive craze of humankind.
The lyrical voice turns into an incoherent tirade mocking the civilization exposing the topsy-turvydom.
"how did I get pregnant haiku
all my babies
were rhythm
babies
oompy doompy who you be
when i sing my oompy doompy song
am i just nina simone off key?
aretha with a properlyfitted bra?if i pop my pistol
oompy doompy one two three
will a flag bullet come out?
can i be fannie lou hamer..." Page 48
The lines are asymmetrical without any regular structure or Stanza pattern. They are as awry as our proposition to our lives.
Words are very powerful as they beat with the heartbeat of civilization. Different facets of societal hypocrisy are explored and exposed here. The penetrating pen of the author is brazenly fiery demanding a positive change.
Racism is a serious subject that the author throws light into with her poetic diplomacy: "iiwhite people love their dogs so much
because it was bred in them
to treat blacks like beasts
of burden during slavery"
Page 50
Immigrant, child abuse, loss of human values … multiple themes connect the poetic dots.
There is nothing I dislike about this book. I enjoyed the book with a crazy heart. It is wonderful. The rebellious tone of the author is so vibrant and doughty that the poems appear like little shells of bombs.
I rate the book 5 out of 5. There are no editing glitches here. I recommend this book to everyone interested in unstripping the naked truth of our existence. Judy Juanita is an American writer with a bag full of myriads of literary pieces and recognition. “Gawdzilla” is her second poetry collection.
******
Gawdzilla
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Gawdzilla by Judy Juanita
"When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi
Troubles my sight: somewhere in sands of the desert
A shape with lion body and the head of a man,
A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,"
[W.B.Yeats "The Second Coming"]
"American nuclear weapons testing has created a seemingly unstoppable, dinosaur-like beast Godzilla," ["Gawdzilla" by Judy Juanita, page 16]
Does not the same thought echo in both voices?
As human civilization progresses we are experiencing a new "second coming", the emergence of a beast. But in reality, the beast is within us...the beast is outside…the beast is everywhere. Being powerful with nuclear power we are losing the sanctity of our heart, and getting involved in destroying what we have created. In search of that lost sanctity of life, the author has gone through many a route, from being a member of the Soka Gakkai International-USA to his active participation in the Black Panther Party to his involvement in the Nichiren Soka Gakkai Buddhist. But the onslaught of Godzilla is inevitable. In every sphere of life, we are fighting with Godzilla, be it in our relationship or our worship of God. We are unstable, we are uncertain, and we are confused.
‘Godzilla’ is used as a symbol here, same as for Yeats, the rough beast slouching towards Bethlehem. The beast is an ominous power, a destructive craze of humankind.
The lyrical voice turns into an incoherent tirade mocking the civilization exposing the topsy-turvydom.
"how did I get pregnant haiku
all my babies
were rhythm
babies
oompy doompy who you be
when i sing my oompy doompy song
am i just nina simone off key?
aretha with a properlyfitted bra?if i pop my pistol
oompy doompy one two three
will a flag bullet come out?
can i be fannie lou hamer..." Page 48
The lines are asymmetrical without any regular structure or Stanza pattern. They are as awry as our proposition to our lives.
Words are very powerful as they beat with the heartbeat of civilization. Different facets of societal hypocrisy are explored and exposed here. The penetrating pen of the author is brazenly fiery demanding a positive change.
Racism is a serious subject that the author throws light into with her poetic diplomacy: "iiwhite people love their dogs so much
because it was bred in them
to treat blacks like beasts
of burden during slavery"
Page 50
Immigrant, child abuse, loss of human values … multiple themes connect the poetic dots.
There is nothing I dislike about this book. I enjoyed the book with a crazy heart. It is wonderful. The rebellious tone of the author is so vibrant and doughty that the poems appear like little shells of bombs.
I rate the book 5 out of 5. There are no editing glitches here. I recommend this book to everyone interested in unstripping the naked truth of our existence. Judy Juanita is an American writer with a bag full of myriads of literary pieces and recognition. “Gawdzilla” is her second poetry collection.
******
Gawdzilla
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
