Poetry Readers Challenge discussion

I bought two of McDaniel's books at once after a friend recommended him, but before I'd read anything by this poet at all. When I began reading this I thought, oh no, have I made a mistake, and indeed the opening poem didn't slay me.
In the end, there were a couple poems I didn't love, but I deeply enjoyed so many of them. McDaniel is funny and dark, has great metaphors and turns of phrase, and all relatable. (I'm now looking forward to book #2.)
The book is split into three sections, 'Little Soldier of Love,' 'Reflections of a Cuckold and Other Blasphemies,' and 'Return to El Mundo Perdido.' The second two were my favorites -- the middle section on the adulterous wife was particularly good, and perhaps more interesting because you don't see a lot of honest poetry about sexual betrayal, or at least I don't, and certainly not with a touch of humor.
One of the most memorable is "The Cuckold Contemplates the Malibu Fires," which begins:

The fire chooses the coastline
because it enjoys its own reflection,
its thousand licking tongues lashing
across the rippling hips of the sea.
The moon's borrowed light suddenly
seems inferior...

Thanks for this review, Sarah. I was surprised to see this book was blurbed by Major Johnson, who called McDaniel "probably the most important poet in America." I guess it speaks to how much strong poetry is out that that I hadn't heard of this poet at all before. And it is brave to buy two books by a poet, sight unseen! But I did like the excerpt and agree re: the relative freshness of the betrayal theme. I'm currently reading a book of criticism called Subjects in Poetry, about what choosing a good fresh subject can do for a poem, so seeing your review praising this book's subjects slots right in with that.

Yes, sometimes I lament buying even ONE book, much less two. So luck was with me there. I've just begun .

great review- another book to add to my list

Checking this out. Love the excerpt.