In the preface to DRAGONFLY DANCES: Poetic Musings on Life, poet Sandi Duverneuil writes about wanting to share her “authentic duality,” and that becomes the keystone of the whole work. The first half comprises English poems, and the second half is in French—drawing a literal line through the different aspects of Duverneuil’s life.
Duverneuil is also not shy about how personal the collection is, influenced by her time spent living in New York, France, and Japan, as well as the loss of those she loves. The death of her mother plays a major part in the construction of several poems, and when she writes “Mom, please help me deal with this,” the reader feels like maybe they’ve overheard a personal conversation they shouldn’t have. The vulnerability that Duverneuil puts on display is commendable, as it makes the whole collection shine with sincerity. Even if you don’t like the verse, it’s hard to argue against how genuinely the author writes.
For the most part, the poetry is straightforward and direct. Many of the poems are written as if addressed to a particular audience, like “Letter to my Children” and “To My Younger Self.” There is little in the way of metaphor or flowery language when she simply writes “Life is short / Follow your heart.” Occasionally she dips into haiku, leaning on her experience in Japan to write about the seasons, and how the stars remind her of her brother in “Stars”: “Infinite twinkling / Midnight blue skies come alive / Where are you Billy?” One of the best and simplest poems is “Magic Carpet,” a short piece that with just a few stanzas connects childhood trauma with its effect on adult personality.
DRAGONFLY DANCES also demonstrates a real knack for layout and shaping text in a way that adds dimension to a poem. In “Billy,” she writes the repeated phrase “ashes spread over the sea” and each time has the letters themselves spread apart from each other—cascading down the page like the wind and the waves taking her brother’s ashes. “Letter to My Mom: Part 1” ends with a full page dedicated to the word “mother” shaped into a heart. Some may find these stylistic choices gimmicky, but others will find them effective.
Overall, DRAGONFLY DANCES is a simple collection that works best when leaning into the poet’s personal history. Readers with experience raising a family or losing a loved one will likely get more out of it, as the rawness of the emotion is so relatable. Poets interested in alternative ways to lay out their lines should take a look, too, as the effects of Duverneuil’s constructions are as thought provoking as the words themselves.
Sandi Duverneuil’s DRAGONFLY DANCES: Poetic Musings on Life is a thoughtful collection of poems about life, love, and death that is at its best when exploring the poet’s personal history.
~Alex Strine for IndieReader