Living in the American Heartland by Michael A. Suber with Colin Suber is a poetry collection exploring patriotism as well as experiences over the span of a life lived in the American Midwest.
These rhyming poems often reflect on universal topics such as love, friendships, family, childhood dreams, and the passage of time. In addition, many of the poems critique political hypocrisy in the face of the myriad struggles challenging Americans. For example, “I Love This Country” expresses impatience with leadership: “Merry Christmas to Congress / Who just stood back and dodged./ Happy holidays to my country/ Where I served three tours in Afghanistan//[…] Just give us our freedoms our forefathers fought for./ Stay out of our way, you political whores!”
Despite such despairing comments, the authors want readers to appreciate that the United States is worth fighting for, as in “There Is Still an America”: “[America] is the home of the brave and the free./ Look at the children running for the border/ For a splinter of hope just to be/ Here in America.”
The language here is straightforward and readers who enjoy the insights and reminiscences of a veteran and family man will appreciate the frank expressions of emotion, such as in “With Your Smile,” which shows appreciation for a life partner: “She wakes in the morning/ To a full list of chores./ I love the way she pats the kids/ And gets herself ready for work.”
While the pieces in this collection seem sincere and may be relatable to many, they show little training in the art of poetry. They tend to be didactic and prosaic, lacking vivid imagery, sensory detail, and surprising particulars. They would benefit from more attention to unique, figurative language and use of the musical gifts, such as unique rhythms and pacing, that poetry can offer.
Readers will find the speakers’ viewpoints interesting, but dedicated poetry fans will want to look elsewhere for more sophisticated fare.
Also available in hardcover.