Out of the Whirl by Ron Sanders

Poet Ron Sanders has gathered a disparate and impactful collection of verse, capped by a parable-like novella in Out of the Whirl, a free-wheeling, experimental, and powerful collection.

Sanders’ poetry is both elemental and spiritual, tapping into universal and abstract themes of resilience and fortitude, faith and power, while using language that is natural and immediate. Pieces like “Masters of the Wheel” come across as nostalgic mythology, while “Dust to Dust” reads like a musing on the inherent pain of life – the crushing anxiety of existence. These are decidedly heavy themes, and many are expanded on in the extended prose piece, “Hero,” a brutal journey of self-discovery.

Some of the verse in the first half of this book comes across like prose with forced enjambment, but there are incredibly lyrical stretches of poetry as well. The tone of the pieces swings from a classical style of epic poetry to more conversational explorations, reminiscent of Bukowski or Ginsberg, finding value in gritty banality. The fluctuating approach to form – and even background color, as in “Faces” – makes this entire collection feel like an experiment that is comfortable in its fluidity.

While some of Sanders symbolism and allusions may feel anachronistic or esoteric, there is a visceral power in his chosen themes, and the unpredictable use of language imbues these pages with notable energy. Out of the Whirl is not your average collection of poetry; it is a cryptic and shadowy puzzle, urging readers to mine deep for uncommon insight and meaning.