Book Review: Cashing Checks with Jim Morrison

Posted: March 15, 2024 | Author: kayelynnebooth | Filed under: Book Review, Books, Collection, Poetry, Review | Tags: Book Review, Cashing Checks with Jim Morrison, Lindsay Martin-Bowen, Poetry, Poetry Collection, Writing to be Read |11 Comments

About the Book

My Review

I was thrilled to receive a print copy of Cashing Checks with Jim Morrison, by Lindsay Martin-Bowen. The title alone, was enough to peak my interest, and lend anticipation as to what I could expect within its covers.

This collection of poems is all about hanging out, and philosphizing with the spirit of the late, great, Jim Morrison. I was amazed by the way the author captured the voice of Morrison in many of the poems, enough to let me believe briefly that maybe the author truly does converse with the dead musician. Included are poems that serve as social commentaries on life and love, on the state of the world today, and on possible futures; topics which every one of us can relate to.

So many of these poems struck a chord with me that it is impossible to pick one favorite. but I really loved the imagry in “Coming Back to Me”.

The dawn inhales and holds its breath, drawing

wisps of clouds up the foothills, where theyb hover.

Jim steps out of the mist, unsteady as some soldier

searching for his platoon on a surreal battlefield.

He wedges boot heels into fissures be3tween rock

ledges, ambles down to where gravel meets asphalt.

Then he steps onto the road leading to my Dutch

Colonel on a corner in this mountain college town,

where I chose to spend many of my remaining days,

watching parades of seasons pass in the hills’

keleidescope of colors revolving — in fall, scarlet,

gold, and bronze. In winter, cobalt blue and white.

Spring brings a rushed array — one week yellow,

the next red, then purple, and green never leaves

till late August, just before the aspen twitter

with orange and gold coins glittering in sunlight.

I don’t see a move to Kansas or any spot east, wonder

if Jim and I will land in Venice, his California beach.

He raises a hand and yells, ‘lo,’ his voice echoing

down the street, falling at my knees, now trembling.

When he heads my way, I smell his Jade East, see

his hazy body morph into solid physique, black

leather pants, jacket, and sandaled feet. He lifts his chin,

shakes his curls, then lowers his face and stares at me.

Still trembling, I remember our jaunts on a motorcycle

and a persnickety jeep — wonder if I’ll ever be free again

or if I’ll ride highways like some banshee for eternity.

And I also enjoyed the section of Tanka strings, always the sucker for syllabic poetry. Most have five Tankas, but “Jim Morrison and I Lose Our Way on a Moon Dog Night” isonly two, and short enough to share with you here.

The drive home’s always

this way — too long, when sudden

changes shakes us up.

After a few warm, sunny

days, cold winds hit us again.

Tonight, an odd haze

encircles the moon like white

light in an X-ray

outlining a frail hip bone

fallen into necrosis.

An unusual collection of poetry through which to view the world through different eyes; perhaps through the eyes of Jim Morrison. I thoroughly enjoyed Cashing Checks with Jim Morrison, and I give it five quills.

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Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARCs. Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review on the Book Review tab above.

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