At first glance, Amy Laub's What Water Says is a collection of poems that explores the theme of water, but beneath the surface it is a lot more than that. From the first standalone poem, from which the collection gets its name, we see that this book is a meditation on a lifelong elemental love affair. Laub examines water in all its forms, with each section of the book dedicated to one of its different manifestations. Water comes in the form of a storm, one that a young Laub experiences as the bringer of days off. It comes as a pool enjoyed by young girls that Laub witnesses as an adult. It departs as the casualty of a broken marriage, and then returns as a quiet creek of peace enshrouded by a forest and its trees.
In less able hands, a collection like this would be nostalgic and cliché. However, Laub's deft pen and singular voice make this collection a masterclass in control and craft. Each poem seems to have just enough language to leave us intrigued yet satisfied. We are shown what things and emotions are there, and we are left to fill our heads with the wonders of what Laub delicately presents to us. This book may be about the relationship between the author and water, but I am thoroughly in love with this book.
Anthony Palma’s work attempts to bridge the gap between poetry and other forms while addressing issues of social justice, identity, and existence. His work has appeared in publications such as Rue Scribe, Oddball Magazine, and the Show Us Your Papers Anthology. His debut collection of poetry, flashes of light from the deep (Parnilis Media), is now available on Amazon. Be sure to look him up on social media at anthonypalmapoetry.