WHEN THE LIGHT IS MINE

An emotive collection of poetry that examines topical issues.

Holesworth’s poems delve into what the poet views as the cultural devolution of our civilization and the corruption of our political leaders. In “Doge This,” this commentary is explicit, containing allusions to Elon Musk: “Regulate the x-man, / regulate the cash flow, / regulate the means that give them control.” These thoughts are echoed in “Heard Things, Little Bit,” rendered in the poet’s stream-of-consciousness style: “It’s like we think we have to suffer to live so the more horrible times we have, the / greater chance to have a better after-life. / If there is one. / I don’t even think there is one. / Well…but then how can that be true?” Holesworth emphasizes assonance in many of his pieces, and the repeated sounds add an intriguing texture, as in “Introvert/extrovert”: “The slavers have a new waver they impose.” While there are many such strengths in Holesworth’s collection, it often seems that clarity has been sacrificed in favor of lines that merely sound good; for example, in “I Want to Know Your Favorite Song and What Makes You Cling to It,” the poet writes, “The land is loyal to those who step on it, / lost the summer but gained three more like it, / salt is the devil and sweet is God, / put them together and everyone dies.” The cadence here works well, but the meaning may only be clear to the poet. Some lines start strong but then fizzle out, as exemplified in another passage from “Introvert/extrovert”: “telling us to consume the status quo, / like it’s our only option. / Can’t be left out.” There is a thread of dissatisfaction running throughout the collection, but some later pieces convey more hopeful sentiments in a more concise expression, such as “People Need People”: “My mind is yours for the picking. / Rearrange it and capture its worth.” This simpler approach helps Holesworth’s words to shine instead of befuddle.

Raw and honest poetry occasionally lacking in lucidity.