Richard Siken’s “Crush” is an unrelenting and feverish exploration of desire, love and violence. The book won the 2004 Yale Younger Poets prize and was published by Yale University Press in 2005. “Crush” additionally won the Lambda Literary Award and a Thom Gunn Award. It was also a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award.
The poems in “Crush” are coated in a heavy layer of eroticism, and they center around themes of depression, sexual attraction and personal identity. Siken’s work is haunting with sharp, visceral language that dissects readers as if they are on an autopsy table.
“Crush” is a remarkable collection of poems. A standout piece in the book is “Straw House, Straw Dog,” which is a meta poem that utilizes a list format to discuss alienation and heading down the wrong path in life.
“Crush” is a collection that showcases Siken’s talent as a poet and storyteller. The book is worth picking up and reading if you are interested in poetry or short form storytelling.
Rating: 7/10
