Arrow

Larry Rochelle
BookSurge Publishing (2007)
ISBN 1419666959
Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for Reader Views (6/07)

“Arrow” by Larry Rochelle is his latest collection of poetry that takes the reader from the countryside of Kansas to the compelling life in a city.  Rochelle uses the arrow to represent people escaping their situations or surroundings like an arrow shot through the sky, escaping the bow and flying to a new destination.

“Startle Reflex” tells of a camping trip, a woman awaking to “gray creatures wiggling down the mattress.”  She screams and runs home where she feels safe.  Safe is a place where her possessions “hanging neatly in the closet.”

“Bag Ladies” is a particularly touching piece.  As the people pass the bag lady and other homeless people, they try not to make eye contact.  By pretending that they do not see the street people, they can escape responsibility; they can ignore the pain in the bag ladies eyes.

“The Love Note Posted” tells of an office love affair.  Each day the lovers manage to slip notes to each other, thinking no one would notice.  One day their fellow employees gather to intercept the note and read it aloud, leading to laughter and snickering, helping them to escape the boredom of the day.

“Speed” was one of my favorites.  We all complain about the fast pace of life and yet we speed along.  We insist on instant gratification.

As we grow older, we see our friends die.  In “Old Friends Die,” Rochelle describes heartrending feelings of seeing friends’ names and faces in the obituary. 

Larry Rochelle, author of “Arrow,” offers readers a look at escapism.  Some escape through their imaginations, some through ignoring what is going on around them.  Many others escape by using desperate measures, such as joining a gang; whatever the methods we all attempt to escape.  My personal favorite was “Sister Mary Grace.”  She teaches history and the words come alive.  She can escape into a kingdom of knights, castles, and good deeds. Rochelle is a talented writer capable of expressing his thoughts in a unique way; he uses humor and drama to paint word pictures.  Fans of poetry will enjoy “Arrow.”

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