Grass Animals 2 was such a delight to read! I greatly adored the first collection of poetry, so seeing that a second one had come out, I knew I had to jump on it. Once again, Koppen and Leal do an excellent job of traversing a variety of emotions and experiences in so few words. The vivid visuals they build and the pleasant rhythm that carries the collection makes this a pleasant read, whether you’re enjoying it over your lunch break or just before bed.
I’d previously compared their work to This Is Just To Say by William Carlos Williams, and once again, I found that poem coming to mind… But truthfully, I like what Koppen and Leal do better. Poems like “AIRPORT,” “NEW ORLEANS,” and “BREAKUP” actually made me laugh out loud. Some, like “HALFTIME,” packed a surprisingly emotional punch with so few words. Truly, these poems are beautiful. I love that they capture the wonder and splendor of mundane moments, showcasing just how much of our day to day life is truly poetry if you have the right perspective.
Highly recommend the first and second Grass Animals books to poetry fans. You just can’t go wrong with these lovely collections of poems!