A poetic masterpiece that skillfully navigates the delicate balance between serious contemplation and light-hearted humor. Through Wallace's eloquent verses, readers embark on a journey through the vast landscapes of Oklahoma, where the prairies and skies serve as poignant metaphors for life's transience. The collection addresses profound themes of loss and the inexorable passage of time with a rare blend of sensitivity and wit. Life Is a Disappearing Act is not merely a collection of poems; it's a lyrical exploration of the human condition that will resonate with readers, evoking both laughter and tears.

Hey, poetry lovers, gather 'round because Ron Wallace just dropped a bomb of brilliance with Life Is a Disappearing Act! Imagine this – you dive into the pages expecting a somber Shakespearean dirge, but instead, you get hit with a poetic rollercoaster that's part deep contemplation, part stand-up comedy. It's like if your favorite sitcom had a baby with a Nobel laureate in literature, and that baby grew up to write poems about life, loss, and the absurdity of it all.

Why should you snag a copy of this poetic gem? Well, if you've ever wanted poetry that feels like a conversation with a witty friend rather than a lecture from an old professor, this is your golden ticket. Wallace's words paint pictures of Oklahoma prairies and skies, but don't be fooled – this ain't your grandma's poetry about flowers and rainbows. It's real, it's raw, and it's ridiculously relatable. Life Is a Disappearing Act is the poetic pick-me-up you didn't know you needed – a hilarious, heartwarming, and downright delightful read that'll have you flipping pages like your life depends on it!

4.5/5 rounded up so very easily for his wonderful imagery, heavy dose of Regionalism, and beautiful themes on time and dealing with all of time’s passages effects on us.
Ron Wallace has a beautifully strong way with words. He is well-versed in how to conjure a pastoral image of his home state of Oklahoma. It reminds me a bit of Regionalism which is my favorite portion of American literary history. I love how he infuses ideas of the inevitability of time and death, season and year imagery, and the progression of both our time and Earth’s time through the a rural and pastoral lens. It gives it this timelessness and slow rural-ness that blends into his messages so well.
Sprinkled throughout are a few vignette poems that feel like tributes to family and friends as well as straight up tributes to family and friends. These are touching and beautiful. They are personal and yet relatable to similar relationships the reader shares intheir life. I appreciate Wallace's strong appreciation for his family and his ancestry and those who came before him in his poems.
Normally I try to point out some of my fave poems but honestly they're too many amazing poems. If I had to narrow it though most likely it would be "Approaching Seventy" as it creates this amazing rural ennui. But there are so many good ones such as "Crash," "Running," "What I Took," and "Complicit." And so many are great for just masteful use of poetics like "Ghosts" whic evokes a silent night on the porch with your good thoughts and whisky or "Firefall" for being one of the best “time keeps moving forward” sorta poems in here (a prevalent theme throughout many poems).
I love how Wallace tackles how time and life moves on without us. Its never dreary or depressing. Don't get me wrong, he talks about how sneak attack-y and much of a continuous soul struggle life can be. But he sees the beauty in it. He's not all oh life goes on it without us and that sucks. Instead he's nostalgic and loving of the past while still aware of the past's travesties and recognizing of how they bleed into today. He's appreciative of the present. And he's in loving awe of the universe and the many souls and stories that exist, existed, and will exist. He can get down trodden but he trudges on with hope and appreciation of his ability to experience at the end of the day. And there's a bit of a universality as we are all connected in this truth. "On A Bus To Broken Bow" shows this a bit pretty well along with "Firefall" and "Same Stars."
Just a wonderfully somber-ish collection that respects time itself and comes away with a love for family and having the time there is even if there are a few hiccups that you regret from your past.

“Life is a Disappearing Act” is a collection of poems that very beautiful paints a picture of life and all it's different obstacles and vivid memories. The poems feel very close to home while also being a reflection of the author's life. It's short, but quite impactful nonetheless.

This collection of Ron Wallace's poetry was a good, emotional read. Reflecting on many aspects of his life, including family, pets, life and death, Wallace delivers an impactful series of easy-to-digest poems. Even as a younger person, and one who has never lived in America, these poems can touch anyone - the experiences feel both universal and specific, told in a way that anyone can relate to.

I highly enjoyed this - it's able to be read in one sitting, but will linger long after. I know I'll be thinking about these for weeks to come.

Ron Wallace tackles the idea of mortality and the idea of continuing to live after someone in your life has passed. By focusing on different months and their moods, Wallace creates a cohesive book that is breathtaking from start to finish.

Life Is A Disappearing Act
By: Ron Wallace

5 Stars

I am a big-time reader, but I have never been big on poetry. The first thing that grabbed me was the dog on the cover, then the title. Maybe it was because I just lost my own German Shepherd, Ghost, this past week. Or, maybe, just maybe, it came to me at a time I needed it. All I know is that when I saw this book, I just needed to read it. It was both powerful and healing. Each poem brings its own soul to the book as a whole. My favorites were "Comes November" and "On A Bus To Broken Bow." The one that really got me was "In My Father's Books." It has been just past 2 years since I lost my dad, and this one said a lot. Many others grabbed me as well.

*Tissues* I would advise tissues. Im not crying. You're crying. Okay! Okay! Everyone is crying, but in a respectful manner. This was a lovely collection of poems that really hit home on many fronts. I absolutely loved this treasure.

*I want to thank Netgalley and the author for this book in return for my honest review*

Stormi Ellis
Boundless Book Reviews