Uncle of Cats

Uncle of Cats by Corey Wakeling is a collection of poems that maintains a formally consecutive structure while employing radical parataxis. These lines never expand portentously; instead, they offer a critique that aims to nullify figures like Larkin and bog men, exploring the archaeologies of cultural inheritance. The poems’ Japanese intertexts do not indulge in a smug distortion from an empty mind to Western mindfulness, avoiding a 'porcelain pseudo-history' glazed with ego and delusory self-denial.

The essence of these poems lies in their use of old lyric technology which turns against its partiality to lull and wrap things up. The poetry is as fast and sharp as ice. Picture stepping outside where at the top of the street it is bitterly cold, yet at the bottom, it is sweltering and humid. This reflects the weather at every extreme. Here, transit becomes transit.

As John Wilkinson notes, this unique approach highlights the collection's power, offering a compelling reading experience that challenges traditional poetic forms.