Mississippi Library Association

A Parable of Women: Poems

Kolin, Philip C. A Parable of Women: Poems.
Itta Bena, MS: Yazoo River Press, 2009.
31 pp. $12.95 (paperback)

This book of poetry is a moving work that illustrates the desires, hopes, and laments of women. It spans the past to the present, with the women varying from youth to elderly and from the forgotten to the blessed. Each poem delves deeply into the hearts of these women and draws out their deepest emotions.

While a relatively short collection of poems, I was moved by the way Kolin brought the characters’ thoughts and emotions to life, making me want to know more about them. In “The Lady of the Viaduct,” he tells about a woman, homeless and alone. I can’t help wondering what events led up to her being in such a state. And in “Over Coffee,” I was moved by the heartbreak the woman endured because her husband had grown tired of her. Even though many of the poems are more melancholic, it is not a deterrent since we all are touched by hardship at one time or another.

Not only would this book be a great addition to any Mississippi collection, as Kolin is a professor of English at the University of Southern Mississippi, but it would be an asset to any library’s collection because of the variety of poems and his topic of choice.

Justine B. Willey
Library Media Specialist
Moss Point High School

Entry Filed under: Book Reviews
Posted on: August 10th, 2010