Wonder

In "Wonder", Chris Emery explores awe, beauty, history, and the marvels of everyday life.

He leans heavily into vivid imagery, obscure word choices, and surprising juxtapositions, aiming to offer fresh perspectives. While I appreciated the intent, the execution didn’t quite land for me. Much of the "wonder" I experienced was me wondering if I was missing something, or if the meaning just wasn’t there.

I kept waiting for a poem to truly stick with me, but instead of awe, I mostly felt mild puzzlement or indifference.

Though some pieces felt playful, Emery largely avoids rhyme, rhythm, or sound play like alliteration. Several free verse poems didn’t feel especially poetic, and the meter was sometimes clunky enough to trip over.

That said, I respect the effort to capture fleeting, intimate moments and to move between the mundane and fantastical. The collection has a distinct aesthetic, but it didn’t leave much of an impression on me. If you enjoy experimental imagery and don’t mind a lack of lyrical flow or emotional weight, this may work better for you. For me, it was an uneven read that never quite found its footing.

2.5/5 Rounded up.