" A compilation of art in two forms"
‘Midnight Light’ by Michael Pace and Brian Paglinco is a compilation of art in two forms: a mixture of photography and poetry. Each poem is paired with an atmospheric photograph of a final resting place. As the photographs and the poems alternate I would say that this book would be best enjoyed as a hard copy, so you can appreciate them as a pair.
The photographs vary in subject and composition. One is black and white, with sharp contrasts, with a single flower stark against an almost black headstone. Others are more vibrant, an angel turned away in the middle of an autumn graveyard. You can spend time on each photo, contemplating the whys and whens of each shot.
There are 23 poems in all, each one of varying length, from a line to a page. I did find that I personally preferred the longer poems, 'Midnight Light' and 'Paris' were a little lost on me. Focusing on the themes of love, death and redemption there is a haunted atmosphere to each one, I feel this was intensified by their photographic companion. I thought each poem was well constructed, with an image or moment shared with the reader. As with the photographs, these are pages to turn slowly, to ponder over what happened before and what will happen after. As each piece varies in length they also vary in style, with different rhythms and pace to keep the reader engaged.
| Primary Genre | Poetry |
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