Boston Area Small Press and Poetry Scene: Cindy Hochman: Habeas Corpus

Cindy Hochman

Habeas Corpus

Glass Lyre Press, LLC

Glenview, IL

ISBN-10: 1941783023

ISBN-13: 978-1941783023

Softbound, 27 pages, $12

Review by Zvi A. Sesling

This is a book about body parts. Before you say yuk, let me tell you it is very entertaining. Let me also, for disclosure say that Ms. Hochman published my poetry in her magazine, First Literary Review - East and I will be publishing her this fall in Muddy River Poetry Review. Having confessed, I can now say that I did judge this book objectively and of the body parts she writes about I have never thought of in quite the same way, except one, which you will figure out if you read this short (27 pages, 13 poems) book. She writes about the womb, legs, tongue, mouth, liver, fingers, eyebrows, heart, mind eyes, ears, ears (revised), breasts and full body scan.

Yes, she has really written these, and they are quite personal, and all as prose poems, some half a page long, some only one line or two.

Hochman also is prone to puns such as “Eve didn’t know her asp from her elbow because she was too busy tendon her garden.” (from “Womb”).

“Tongue,” on the other hand, is a one line touching tribute to both religion and her father:

“This tongue has said hello to God—and good-bye to Dad.”

Her poem “Heart (a sonnet)” is a hysterical take on former vice president Dick Cheney, and unless you are fan of his or his former boss, you will enjoy her take down of this forever politician.

And when you read “Full Body Scan,” you will wonder whether it is all true, and I believe it probably is, given she lives in Brooklyn, NY and has survived all these adventures, years and people she has encountered.

Hochman has her own style and way of saying things which is very enjoyable and easy to read. She is, however, more difficult to classify. Is she a confessional poet, a dramartic poet or a humorist? Maybe all of them—sometimes in one poem.

I really did find the book not only funny but serious – a dichotomy, yes, but nonetheless one which I recommend to all. You can probably get it by emailing the publisher, Glass Lyre Press at publisher@glasslyrepress.com or you can order directly from the poet by emailing poet2680@aol.com.

Enjoy.

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Zvi A. Sesling

Reviewer for Boston Small Press and Poetry Scene

Author, King of the Jungle and Across Stones of Bad Dreams

Publisher, Muddy River Books

Editor, Muddy River Poetry Review

Editor, Bagel Bards Anthologies 7& 8