Poetry Readers Challenge discussion

I love this collection of poems. Deutsch is so frank, open, and engaging that it doesn’t matter if you, the reader, grew up far, far from Brooklyn. You will identify with him and the people he knew back when. Some of the characters will remind you of your own inner circle. This was particularly true for me, despite being a Southern girl, because we came of age in the same era. He puts out the welcome mat first, by letting you know not to expect fancy cars or elaborate summer vacations. For me, being a fan of The Lone Ranger, made me confident I’d enjoy the rest of the book. I revisited my own childhood in his reminiscences about neighborhood games, pop music of the 50s and 60s, and in the naivety of our worldviews back then. Then Vietnam. The people around him face bigger, and bigger problems with age, and we’re now in the years of saying goodbyes.
Sad, yes, but our memories keep growing richer.

It makes sense to arrange the poems in chronological order: I. The Family, II. The Neighborhood, III. All Grown Up, and IV. Growing Old.

In reminiscing after his brother’s death, the sweet title says, “I Am the Younger Brother,” even though it becomes obvious they were twins. As always happens, there is
some sort of rivalry.

“I could not imagine why women
found you irresistible, but they took
to you like bears to a hive.
You never felt the need
to swat a single one of them away.”

In an earlier poem (“Me and You”), he tells us,

“Friends and family
would often declare…
that my brother and I
were polar opposites…
‘just like
Jekyll and Hyde.’

Yet the stories
they told
over the dinner table
were of your exploits–
not of my storied virtues.
I was observant.
I knew by age five
that the devil had
the best lines….”

For those of us still around who could title a poem, “I Remember November, 1963,” John F. Kennedy’s assassination was the biggest shock of our young lives. I was moved yet again to read,

“It was the Saturday
after they’d gunned
down Kennedy.
Too cold for b-ball,
we huddled
in the schoolyard
and talked
at half-voice…”

Autumn always stirs up reminiscences, so I recommend you read Brooklyn and let Deutsch pull some of your favorite memories out of storage.

Sigh- another book to add to my endless list! I just ordered a Matt Mason book based on your review. This sounds ideal, Alarie

I think you'll really enjoy it. I was especially fortunate that I got a copy for free as my gift for entering the Poetry Super Highway annual competition.