The Art of Learning to Fly by Timothy Arliss OBrien and contributors Kristen Baum DeBeasi, Jay Nuwald, Jennifer Kemnitz, Felicia Rashe, Tabitha Acidz, Nicolas Yandell
Review by Joe Haward
Published by Timothy Arliss OBrien and The Poet Heroic
4/5
Pigeons may not immediately appear to be the most profound nor inspiring animals to base a poetry collection upon, yet that is exactly what The Art of Learning to Fly gathers together into its metaphorical wings. And the result is a profound collection on the human experience as life and story, pain and pleasure, dreams and disappointments are woven together with poetic skill.
Whilst unfortunately today many people in the West regard pigeon’s as more of a pest than a pleasure, the story of the pigeon is intimately bound together within human history. They were often used in the ancient act of sacrifice, seen as an acceptable offering to the gods to invoke forgiveness of blessing. Many writers during the Roman Empire believed pigeon manure was one of the best sources of fertilizer, and in the Ancient Near East pigeon dung was the main organic fertilizer for traditional farmers.
In the Gospel accounts relating to the life of Jesus of Nazareth, a dove appears at his baptism, settling upon him. The Greek word used for ‘dove’ in these accounts means ‘rock pigeon’, the kind found in the damp, dark caves of the mountains. The significance is that the true discovery of your own character is found in the places of discomfort. As Dr Martin Luther King Jr once said,
“The ultimate measure of a [person] is not where [they] stand in moments of convenience and comfort, but where [they] stand at times of challenge and controversy,”
This is what makes The Art of Learning to Fly so captivating as a collection; who are we in these moments?
In the introduction, OBrien asks whether we can relate to the flight of pigeons and birds, whether these avian neighbors of ours have something to teach us about our own humanity. Each poet in this collection then sets about drawing such meaning out, revealing the beauty and pain all around us. It turns out that pigeons have much to teach us about who we are, and what we are capable of. But this is no sentimental collection of poetry that simply calls us to fly, like self-help gurus looking for a quick buck, rather, it is a collection of warmth and honesty, the integrity and character of each poet captivating and severe in their ability to speak into your life and hold your attention.
The collection is aided by wonderfully playful artwork, elevating the collection ever further. And there is a wonderful touch at the end where a page has been left for the reader to craft their own poem to add to the collection, asking, “What does yearning for flight mean to you?”
The Art of Learning to Fly is rich in poetic texture, depth, and human touch, and I’m excited to see what The Poet Heroic brings next into the world to help the poetry community soar.
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