A MATTER OF SELECTION

(CarolSmallwood',s) greatest strengths lie in her own original content, and in that respect, A Matter of Selection soars not only as a follow-up to her past collections, but also as an independent entry into the modern poetic landscape. Be it the personal touches inside the profound, &ldquo,The Universe,&rdquo, the sensory allusions of &ldquo,A Chemo Visit,&rdquo, the domestic snapshots shaping &ldquo,The Sewing Box,&rdquo, or the startling social commentary beneath the short and simple &ldquo,Examples,&rdquo, Smallwood ensures that just about every piece is surprising, unique, and resonant. As such, A Matter of Selection is a tour-de-force illustration of the potentials of poetry.&mdash,Jordan Blum, founder, editor-in-chief, The Bookends Review_,