"Chebeague" by Sidney Hall, Jr.
ISBN 1-882291-70-0
$8
Copyright 2001
Oyster River Press
20 Riverview Rd. Durham, NH  03824
(603) 868-5006
(From the "Walking to Windward" Series, Vol. III Invocation)

Review by LB Sedlacek

According to the forward, the title of Sidney Hall Jr's collection "Chebeague" comes
down from the Native Americans who once danced along the beaches, and it means
either "land of many springs," (from the number of fresh water sources) or "land that is
never quite joined," referring to the sand bar between Great Chebeague and Little
Chebeague islands that disappears at high tide.

Hall's poems seem intent at exploring the latter explanation in this exquisite
recreation of Chebeague island life.   (Chebeague is in Casco Bay off the coast
of Maine.)  Primarily Hall's poems move back and forth painting pictures of nature
and the island's businesses along with moving portrayals of Chebeague's residents.
Hall takes short mental steps into everything from a walk on the beach to the life of
the island dogs.  The homey characters feel like pleasant recitations of old
tales told once before.

From "The Men of Chebeague"
The men of Chebeague are nowhere,/
or at least nowhere to be seen./
They are saving themselves for the eternal./
They are inside garages with heaters humming./
They are down in the hulls of covered boats./
They are hiding in the back rooms of their houses./
Only the old are out walking in mud boots.

From "Charlie"
He has found a good way to retire,/
caretaker to summer homes,/
ferry boat days done/
captain of small things now.

From "The Shame"
I am ashamed of myself; these poems/
were hardly worth getting drunk for./
The smallest of purple snails/
on the long impeccable beach/
where I walked alone today/
could speak with a louder voice.

Sidney Hall, Jr. is a classics scholar and the author of the books "What We Will Give
to Each Other" and "Small Town Tales."

LB Sedlacek's poetry has been published in "Inkburns," "Would That It Were,"
"sidereality," "Hadrosaur Tales," and "Hurricane Review."  LB's latest
chapbooks are "Hemlock Suicides Planned by Well-Dressed Men in Suits" and "Red Headed Eskimos."

(This review originally published in The Poetry Market Ezine, 08/04)

The Poetry Market Ezine

LB Sedlacek

Assume Nothing Press