Like all collections and anthologies, some of the entries in "Better to Travel" hit the mark far better than others. Those that are of the better quality both express and evoke strong emotional reactions. Kelley clearly understands how it feels to love intensely, to lose that love, to find despair. He also understands how to make his words convey all those feelings to readers.
Poetry ought to stir the emotions. It is a language of the soul and of the heart conveyed through the minds of both poet and reader finding similar feelings and meaning. Many of the works in this large collection do every bit of that, but those that do not rise to that level are particularly flat and lifeless.
Even though Kelley is a gay writer and probably telling about m/m relationships at the literal level, you do not feel that in the poetry. It is universal. It applies to anyone who is on love, has been in love or has lost love. It is a worthwhile collection and I am glad I was finally able to locate it and then read it. ( )

Like all collections and anthologies, some of the entries in "Better to Travel" hit the mark far better than others. Those that are of the better quality both express and evoke strong emotional reactions. Kelley clearly understands how it feels to love intensely, to lose that love, to find despair. He also understands how to make his words convey all those feelings to readers.
Poetry ought to stir the emotions. It is a language of the soul and of the heart conveyed through the minds of both poet and reader finding similar feelings and meaning. Many of the works in this large collection do every bit of that, but those that do not rise to that level are particularly flat and lifeless.
Even though Kelley is a gay writer and probably telling about m/m relationships at the literal level, you do not feel that in the poetry. It is universal. It applies to anyone who is on love, has been in love or has lost love. It is a worthwhile collection and I am glad I was finally able to locate it and then read it. ( )