Bending the Universe

I genuinely liked this! I don't often read poetry but these poems centered around realistic, common and current scenarios was a good enough reason for me to keep reading them. The collection is divided into five sections, five essential topics that basically sums up everyone--society, love, life, personal and nature. The first section opened with a bang and I couldn't help but smile at how relatable some stanzas were; the commonly seen and felt instances were well-constructed in a manner that didn't come across too harshly but the point was made evident. The other sections were good too, but a few poems in each part seemed a bit rushed and not particularly overwhelming, something I expect from poetry. While this erratic selection worked greatly in a few bits, they did tone down the excitement in a few. Regardless, I would certainly recommend this to those who love their poems transpired from real-life experiences, thoughts and circumstances, giving the readers a transparent vision.

This book was alot. This has opened my eyes to a whole new perspective on the way things are viewed now, and many aspects of the way things are. I would recommend this book to anyone who focuses on social things such as equality, rights, and things in that nature. Personally, I'm not a big reader on things with this type of meaning and I wouldn't read this again but I am also glad I did. If you decide to read this book, read it with an open mind.

Bending the Universe by Justin Anthony Wetch is the commercial reprinting of his first collection of poetry. Wetch is an artist, poet, photographer, musician, pretentious egomaniac, and messy-haired fool from Palmer, Alaska.

This collection covers several themes and the themes are laid out in a way that benefits the book overall. The first section, "Society," is very hard hitting. The faults and failures of modern America are described in detail. The pace is fast and jumps from point to point. Once realizing the Wetch is a musician so I took to reading his work more as urban lyrics. This seemed to work well as there is no real line structure and what meter there is seems to be more like hip-hop. “Church” is one of the best in that part of the collection and shows promise as poetry. The topics are current and reflect the thinking of many.

The section “Love” fell flat with me except for the opening poem “Your song on the Radio.” Perhaps, it was nostalgia calling me. The other poems seemed a bit trite and overplayed. The third section, "Life," is a bit strong than “Love” but lacks the power of "Society". There still seems to be the essence of the current trend of writing platitudes and four or five line poems:

It is such a pity how some people
Are dead long before their hearts stop beating.
This old man died at twenty-five
When life told him to stop dreaming

To Wetch’s credit, his poems are much longer and more thought out than the new current trend of writers. He seems to be trying to bridge the gap between lyricist and poet. “Empty Wealth” sounds like it could have been an 80s metal song:

Matching Rolex watches
Not happy after all
Bought a huge new mansion
With gold-plated walls.

A garage full of Lamborghinis
Can’t fill an empty heart
Sometimes even the rich
Wish for a fresh start.

I don’t think that is too far from a from Def Leppard or Quiet Riot. I like it. It’s really good as an 80s rock lyric.

The final two sections “Personal” and “Nature” allows the poet to finish stronger than expected. Personally, this is a hit and miss selection for me. Although the misses outnumber the hits, the hits when present are potent and enough to save this collection. This collection would be best for those looking for lyrics than traditional poetry.

This book is very amazing, such a moving poem for me. Definitely one of my favorite.

The hype and cover for this book are both amazing! Poetry in all of its forms are potentially helpful to humanity, and I think this author is not an exception.

Whenever a collection of poetry hits on such a variety of topics and themes-- in this case, sociopolitical poetry, love, nature, and self-- it can be hard to pin down feelings for the collection as a whole. I'm giving this 3 stars because some of the poetry was very good, some of the poetry was so-so but had some great lines that really stuck out, and some really failed to catch my interest at all. I'm not really into nature poetry-- it feels very samey to me-- so I didn't really care for any of those poems. The love poems had some great lines but the poems themselves were just already. The poetry dealing with issues of self and sociopolitical stuff were a mixture of good and meh, the problem in the weaker poems usually being that they felt too constrained when they should have really dug in to raw emotional imagery.

WOW!! I really enjoyed this.
The collection of poems are arranged in five sections, Society, Love, Life, Personal and Nature.

The first section of poems being Society is probably my favourite out of all the other topics,
just because it deals with an arrange of issues that is happening right now from Social Media to diversity and politics.

"140 characters is the most this generation reads"

I actually saw one of the poems on twitter a year ago called "Growing up"( I know, I know goddamn twitter) and i had to stop everything and just reevaluate my life.

"Growing up"
I remember when hands were for comforting
Before they started going up skirts
I remember when lips were for compliments
Before we kissed until being alone didn't hurt.

Overall I would definitely recommend

I thought I’d start this book to fill time during waiting, but I ended up dedicating time to turning its pages. I loved it!

I enjoyed the play of ideas, the play of words. Maybe rhythm is not the strongest suit here, but the imagery is original and relevant. The themes spoke to me as well.

4.5 poetic stars.
Review to come.

Thanks for Netgalley and respective publisher for sending me this copy.

Wonderful poetry wrinkled into Extravagant poetic phrase with deeper perception.
Such poetry can melt any rock, Glittering of spectacular simple words knitted very expertly with visionary aspects.

"Ancestors fought for freedom,
but these kids ain't free,
Decades of debt for a
piece of paper that says degree."

"Oh, but that's the way it goes
Growing up means growing old
We change seasons change
Leaves turns to gold."

"Global warming is cooking us
but we don't care
We didn't start the fire
but it's our fault it's still here."

"Saying we truly know someone
Is like claiming to be able
To recite a book by memory
Having only seen the cover. "


"Growing up in a world we didn't ask for
Growing up with a low ceiling and no floor
Growing up when dreaming means declaring war
Maybe if we don't grow up we can learn to live more. "


"As artists, we create the beauty
We are too afraid to live out
And search, but always fall just shy
Of finding what life is about."


....
"Fear of our differences drive us to action,
We could have peace, but choose overreaction.
Our differences are as minor as Pepsi versus Coke,
But they get stronger over time like a piece of oak.
......

Ignorance is a cancer slowly killing our conscience
Eating away at fading chances of gaining tolerance.
I envision a utopia where people are free;
Where nobody is judged based on beliefs or creed."

Bending the Universe is a collection of poetry by Justin A. Wetch that touches five different topics such as Society, Love, Life, Personal, and Nature. Each poem in each section touches various topics within that specific theme. The poems are relatively straightforward with a hint of floral elements (if that makes sense).
A few of the poems can rhyme but it's not used throughout the entire collection (which can throw someone off). Besides being straightforward, the poems are also very thought provoking, especially in the first section (Society). However, there are some poems that are not intended for the easily offended. Some poems can be heavy and really pack a punch to those who are more sensitive to certain topics (i.e. politics, relationships). That being said, these poems can be brutally honest, which is not something I have seen a lot in poetry (personally speaking). Although it did take me aback the first time, I really liked that aspect. it is nice to read poetry that doesn't sugarcoat the harsh truth.

“Love is Dead
We've started accepting
A shadow of love
As the real thing;
We've started being content
With the shallows
And never learning to swim.

Making love has become ‘Netflix and Chill`
While smoking green and popping pills

Sending flowers
Has become sexting emojis
Nobody remembers ‘taking it slowly’

Quality time
Is a thing of the distant past
We love for a night and nothing lasts

Ballroom dancing
Has become dance floor grinding
O-faces have replaced smiling
We don't connect, we hook up, we
Don't get together, we ‘get lucky.’

Kissing in the rain
Is now making out at a beach party
While crossfaded on booze and Molly

True intimacy
Before honesty required whiskey
Is only glimpsed when tipsy

Love is Dead
And we are each to blame
When we took lighters over wild flame.

Rest in peace
To love, once indescribable,
Now nothing desirable

Love was never perfect
And the past is no golden age
But I can't help but feel
We could do better.”

To finish off, some of these poems seemed rather personal in the good sense that it feels as if it was tailored for the reader, which is something I really enjoy. Overall, I did really enjoy this and I have already started recommending it to close friends.

Felt refreshing seeing this life and in person in a bookstore. This book is an experience, and everyone should read it at least once.