The World Keeps Ending, And The World Goes On

This is a surprisingly good poetry collection. I pick up recently-published poetry books from time to time, and I don’t normally love them. Choi’s book is different.

There are all the major trendy topics in here (as of 2022): recognition of difference and diversity, attempts to “touch grass,” and trying to find meaning when the world doesn’t make sense.

I don’t know how well the individual poems stand in terms of verse and meter, but the imagery was beautiful.

Even so, I think this one will be forgotten in ten years, regrettably so. It feels very much a product of its moment, and I do think this is valuable, but I’m not sure that future readers will.

Somewhat reluctant five stars because I’m not sure it fits what I want from poetry, but five stars anyway because: as an exploration of the many ways in which we (not entirely sure who I’m including or excluding from that “we”) have failed, have been failed, and will continue to fail and be failed, it’s endlessly necessary and meaningful. Everyone should read and work at understanding what is being said here. It’s almost certainly already too late to change anything, but at least you’ll know. Finally.