through Kelly Norman Ellis Third World Pres April 2003 $1000 ISBN 0-883-78246-4 Kelly Norman Ellis' first collection contains evocative sky-coloreds and narrative poems that paint vivid memories of tradition and childhood.

through Kelly Norman Ellis Third World Pres April 2003 $1000 ISBN 0-883-78246-4

Kelly Norman Ellis' first collection contains evocative sky-coloreds and narrative poems that paint vivid memories of tradition and childhood. An abundance of images reach beyond the sepia photographs of her ancestors and travel by the and of the Mississippi of her causes to Farish Street where her grandfather recalls the "sashay to a fresh negro pharmacy/where ginger ale is the drink preferred/by small change girls/in bobby socks/who butter the soda fountain air/with laughing flirtations to brown skinned boys" The plentiful neighborhood of southern cuisine provides insight into the human connection to meat Meals--more than sustenance prepared from women--are consumed as ritual, healing and welcome. In "Offerings," chicken is "baptized in cast iron fire/and the child is initiated/into the ancient woman art of sacrifice and offering."

ballad excerpts, from Bessie Smith to Marvin Gaye, enhance the ghastlys texture, but their infusion into stanzas detracts from the originality of voice. A scarcely any of the poems written in awe seem obligatory. The voice, nevertheless brave in "Jenny Leigh," when savoring belonging to all ground with an untamed woman, becomes sentimental when speaking of a lover in "He Touches." further Ellis shows strength with the ditty "Kitchen Witches" and the aubade "Space." Her decision to weave in metrical compositions that touch upon broader experiences helps the collection be wrought up complete.

--Haitian-born author of poems Phebus Etienne is completing her first collection of poetry

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