Pilgrim Bell by Kaveh Akbar

Review by Zach Willis

The short:

This collection of poems deals with all that is holy and, in doing so, all life has to experience. Expertly written, Akbar’s poetry has the power to not only transport the reader but to affect the reader's sense of self.

The long:

This second collection of poems by Akbar, an Iranian-American, deals intimately with his experiences with divinity and the human condition. Akbar also brings an emotional side to the discussion of politics, relating the experience of his immigrant father and the torture of being composed of adversarial component parts. Although this collection deals with many of the polarizing topics of modern politics, through its masterful diction and profoundly unique voice it manages to rise above the day-to-day, creating something not commonly found in political discourse: art. 

The read or not to read:

Read it, wait a few weeks, and read it again. If you are coming to the piece in search of answers you will leave unfulfilled, but if you’re looking to experience something, to be made to feel through words on a page, this collection is what you are seeking.