Reviews for Symmetry

The average rating for Symmetry based on 2 reviews is 4 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2013-11-11 00:00:00 Oscar Wylde In his second collection of poetry, physician-poet Marc Strauss continues writing poems both about and in the voice of patients. In a New York Times interview, Straus, an oncologist, says "In my world, I've been in the situation for over 25 years of telling thousands of people for the very first time that they have cancer. I try my best to absorb some of their anxiety by working really hard to support them." Straus supports and honors his patients emotionally as well as clinically, by telling their story through his poetry. He pays tribute not only to their suffering, but to their resilience. In "Red Polka-Dot Dress," Straus tells of a conversation between the doctor and a patient's husband. The conversation reveals the person behind the diagnosis. The husband is looking at x-rays, and he "pulled out a picture" of his own. See how beautiful her auburn hair looks in that morning light pulled up in a bun above her neck. And that's me holding her hand. I see, I said. In 3 stanzas Straus captures the fervent desire of families to have their loved one seen as a person, not a disease. Poems written in the voice of a patient are noted with an asterisk after the title. In "Eleventh Floor*," the patient is complaining about the height of the hospital. Straus gives us a wonderfully subtle metaphor when the patient describes what he looks down on from his room. Wouldn't it be better if one were level with a flowering dogwood, a Japanese maple? From here I look down on sunsets. Why the eleventh floor? Admissions is on the first, radiology the second, surgery the third, pediatrics the fourth, obstetrics the fifth. Everyone knows what's in the basement. Perhaps that's why oncology is so far away. The third section contains poems about family. In "The Green Dodge," Straus looks out a window of his house and recalls the first time he took his father to see the house. They drove in his father's green Dodge. He talks about the universal urge to pick up the phone and call a loved one after they've died, and describe what he sees. The lake edged over its bank and the ice had shiny circular pockets as if someone had scattered its surface with silver dollars. Straus then describes the last time his father was at the house. The last time he visited he wore his blue running suit with a red and white vertical stripe. Straus is able to express his frustration with patients as well as his insight. The speaker in "Not God" shares his feelings about patients who ask questions prefaced with "I know you're not God." Do you say this to your lawyer, accountant, Or mother-in-law? And, if I'm not God then why ask me a question that only God can answer? Symmetry gives insight into the person behind the physician.

Review # 2 was written on 2008-12-10 00:00:00 Amy Millman Picks up right where One Word leaves off. I don't think Straus is trying to do anything different here, and I'm fine with that. Enjoyed three or four poems in particular, which I'd mention specifically or even type one out for you, but I had to return the book to the campus library this afternoon. If you liked One Word, you won't be disappointed by this one.