Red Daughters in a Foreign Spotlight: A Collection of Poems

Red Daughters in a Foreign Spotlight (Published November 22, 2008), is Marleen Rita Duckhorn's first published book. It is a collection of poems in which she delivers a plethora of worldly and lighthearted topics, with just enough humor to be wistful yet amusing with the turn of every page.


BOOK REVIEWS

One thing to be said about Duckhorn's poetry; readers get value for their money. Duckhorn clearly owes much to Emily Dickinson, another woman known for filling books to the brim with brief pieces. Sometimes, the poet has a fantastic ear for pregnant-though mundane-symbols, as illustrated in "The Net Weight of the Chess Set." She often seems to have a real knack for phrasing, as with the quick sketch "Who Can Master?": "Who can chortle in the midst of turmoil / Whose open heart be so driven / Bend down and kiss the good earth / And stay happy when shelter's not given?"

--Kirkus Discoveries