Disappointingly, the poetry chain from issue 22 of McSweeney's that starts with Michael Ondaatje is quite lackluster. Some of those within it are good poems, but most just lay the poetry on far too thickly.
Instead of kneading an idea and letting it bake up, nearly all the poets in this chain treat poetry like a person with a mouth of sweet teeth treats syrup: it's laid on every idea to the point where that idea's no longer recognizable.
Kay Ryan, on the other hand has exemplary poems in this collection. They're punchy and rhythmical.
Sarah Lindsay also has two good poems in this collection, Though "Cheese Penguin" is particularly brilliant. Its steady pace is the perfect vehicle for its bizarre story. A story that wouldn't be out of place on a They Might Be Giants album.
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