Surface Tension and Other Poems

David J. Murray
iUniverse (2008)
ISBN 9780595503247
Reviewed by William Phenn for Reader Views (3/09)

Human relationships, as seen through the poetic eyes of David J. Murray; are what this unusual volume of poetry is all about. Among the 150 pages lie 145 poems of love, romantic conflicts, relationships and monologues. With a style that resembles a symphony, David has written the book as one would write a concerto. In the first movement called, “The Darkening Sea” he compares relationships to the Sea. The rise and fall, like waves on a rolling ocean. His comparisons to relationships and Nature are strikingly familiar to real life situations. There is even a dialog between lovers on all the even numbered pages. This made the first movement quite unique and different from the poetic symphony.

His second movement is named, “The Foundling Earth.” In this second of a three part series, Mr. Murray examines the inner conflict that people have within themselves. How and what they feel in a relationship compared to the Earth and its inner conflicts. The author compares such tremors of the earth as tremors in love, a rock as solid as truth itself.

The third and final movement is called “Air and Sky.” This is the compelling finale to the poetic symphony. Mr. Murray describes the serenity shared by two idealistic individuals that are drawn together in a common bond. The sometimes rocky but mostly peaceful relationships, as the sky has to the earth.

After the reader is serenaded, the next series of poems is a conglomerate of twenty-eight miscellaneous poems. This collection is also trifurcated but is labeled with roman numerals, I, II and III. The first deals with evolution and the world around us. Part II touches on the aspects of romance and part III speaks of the affects being an artist has on ones life.

“Surface Tension” by David J. Murray was unique and different in its presentation. The idea of poetic symphony compared to Mother Nature made it an interesting read. I could appreciate the fine editing job and the partitioning kept everything in perspective. I liked the book and gave it a B. It may be a bit heavy reading for the younger crowd but a good read for most.

 

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