Heart, Mind, Blood, Skin by Author K. Andrew Turner
Reviewed by Realistic Poetry International
Author K. Andrew Turner’s Heart, Mind, Blood, Skin is a poetry collection divided into four complete sections, with each segment representing one of the descriptive words used to make up the book’s title: heart; mind; blood; skin.
Intimacy, sensuality, fantasies and relationships are key themes relevant to the first section of the book, including expressive poems like, “Dating,” where Turner opens up about the rarity of finding the ideal “special someone,” even in such a vast, broad, and diverse modern society. And with a smidge of satire mixed in with a little humor, Author K. Andrew Turner creates verses that utilize the magic of metaphors to compare and liken a person who is actively engaged in the dating scene, to someone searching the web on Amazon.com for something they really, really want. But in their search, even using their best keywords to help pinpoint their desired treasure, Turner tells us how all they’re able to find is that what they really, really want is, unavailable.
In this piece, the use of popular, international icons such as Amazon fused with the topic of social/romantic engagement is both trendy and creative! Some readers may even find this piece amusing or humorous, especially if you’ve been in Author Turner’s shoes when it comes to never finding what you want, either online or when it comes to relationships!
Exposed, honest, and full of desire, there are other poems under this section that seem to define and subliminally hint to the Author’s marital status, or possible ‘singlehood,’ at certain points in his life, evoking memories of certain individuals as he wistfully reminisces of chances missed and opportunities lost in the wind, in one poem, enraptured by nostalgia saying, “He Should Have Been My First.
Interestingly, even with such intensely passionate feelings and memories, Turner’s words refrain from any true signs of long-term obligation with any of the individuals he mentions.
In fact, select poems included in this section are purely sultry and desirous, expressing a sense of freedom and autonomy rather than emotional, moral obligation or commitment.
Infatuated and enamored, he writes and shares his wild thoughts, or shall we say, fantasies, about a relationship we aren’t exactly sure exists yet, but definitely does within conscious of Turner’s own mind!
The poem is written in first-person in a dialogue style as if he is holding a conversation with his “dream guy” in the gym, expressing his raging attraction. Excited, free, and provocative, Author K. Andrew Turner is daring and seems to be eager to pursue exactly what he wants with one hundred percent confidence.
With each verse, he embraces his own physical and mental carnality, hinting to pleasure and indulgence, while downplaying the full scope of a ‘husband’ or ‘commitment’ by entitling this piece, “An Open Letter To My Gym Husband.” Like many other poems, this too, exemplifies the Author’s unconventional, quirky and zany style.
We are left to fill in the blanks in the compelling poem, HIV, as Author Turner describes a disquieting scene that seems to reveal an ironic, ominous yet optimistic future.
In one verse he says, “I wait, forget how to breathe. There are no meds here. I leave with a prescription,” then “Tomorrow I begin 30 days and hope all is well.”
In the poem, he references not only to himself, but also to an ill-stricken woman as well as a confounded, blank young boy. Each of the characters, including himself, appear to share one key factor; ambiguity.
Why are they in a place that can be visualized as a medical clinic or facility? What is the story that lies behind the Author’s reason for “beginning” anything in 30days?
Considering the title, HIV, we toss back and forth between the idea of imagining this disease as the key reason for their visit to the place described, ultimately, speechless, compelled to know more and see beyond the subjective haziness of the overall situation. But the cold feeling of uneasiness doesn’t stop here.
Death is a Welcome Inevitability is an interesting poem that confronts demise in a fearless and welcoming manner. Odd and peculiar, Turner’s view in this poem nonchalantly fantasizes of death as he empathizes with those who take their own lives, understating their decision to do so, for the burden of life and all its woes, he says, are much too painful, often leaving us in a heap of debt, like mortgage and student loans.
To explain a bit more behind his view he says, “…you see it differently as a form of freedom,” “freedom from the crushing everyday choices you have to make...” and “freedom from everything from any and all decisions…”
So, rather than the heartache, suffering, grief and pain generally triggered by the arrival of death, Turner actually turns the typical perspective inside-out and amplifies the agony and misery of living and life instead.
With respect to tone, character, and voice, this particular poem certainly puts into perspective Author K. Andrew Turner’s attitude and mentality. While his words do cast a portentous shadow on his future and life overall, as readers, we can also say that there is zero sugarcoating and romanticizing the fact that Turner’s solemn explanation may be a red flag or sign for help. Moreover, his words may be the voice for so many others dangling on the dark fence of suicide, wishing, seeking and hoping for an easier way out of what he essentially describes as endless pain and suffering. Turner’s candidness and sincerity are as brilliant as they are alarming.
In all, Author K. Andrew Turner’s Heart, Mind, Blood, Skin efficiently defines and captures the essence of poetry through many ways, including creative and effective storytelling in features such as “Pictured, Christmas,” The Age of Gemini Begins,” and “July 6, 2015.”
The collection illustrates individuality, makes you consider and feel his emotions, and is extremely observative, painting diverse, distinct portraits of humanity through the Author’s anomalous and abstract lens.
He proves his versatility by venturing through a variety of subjects throughout the book and remembers to celebrate his passion for writing and poetry through classic such as “Untitled Poem” and “Writing Group.”
We are happy to rate this book with 5 stars and feel we were able to learn a lot about the Author and how he genuinely views himself, others and the world.
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