Rainbow Reviews

BOOK BLURB:
This is a chronicle of ten fierce years; snapshots of happy times, sad times, love coming together and love torn apart. The writing style varies dependent on the topic, the mood, the moon. Like a written form of I Spy, the images can be misleading and the subjects may be obscure. Find here the shreds left when life's parade has moved on.

BOOK REVIEW:
Sherrie Theriault gives notice to her readers on the first page of Was Love Lost that the subject matter will not always be cheerful and uplifting, that loss and grief are to be expected along with joy, security, love, and happiness. So it is in this bittersweet collection of poems about all kinds of human relationships, but largely about romantic relationships.

The speaker in these poems refers to herself as "girl" and "wife," but often addresses her lover as "you." In that regard, Theriault's poems are more universal ~ at least between women ~ than specifically lesbian. Only in "Eskimo Kisses but not the Igloo" does the speaker refer to her lover as "my beautiful Butch." The imagery Theriault chooses is more suggestive than explicit, though she does include some mouthwatering descriptions of kisses.

Taken as a whole, the poetry in this volume portrays a lesbian who is also a recovering alcoholic, survivor of childhood abuse, and of the Jewish faith. The poems are as multifaceted as the speaker's identity, flitting from sadness and loss to ecstasy like a butterfly flitting between flowers. In the poet's skillful hands, the emotional ride is gentle rather than overwhelming, and the effect hopeful rather than depressing.

"Was Love Lost" suggests a journey through the poet's other work is one worth taking.

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