Phantom Captain

Embarking upon a poetic quest through the human psyche, the speculative latest from Rosenfeld (after USO: I’ll Be Seeing You) is divided into six poems that plumb the existential depths of postmodernist seas, offering an avant-garde exploration of life’s waves: “thank you for joining me again/ in this interesting new/ life testing/ medium// I’m going to speak to you in an inaudible way// I hope this will relax you.” These pieces suggest their influences (Nietzsche, Kant, and Freud), while illustrating the quirkiness of the sublime through experimental forms and a stream of consciousness style. Weaving prose poems and haiku-like fissures and mostly resisting traditional structures, Rosenfield makes her interest in existence and social critique evident in poems that tackle Instagram and other societal conundrums, painting the world as a “shell shocked place” (from “It’s Been an Almost Hysterical Test of My Mettle”). The speaker acknowledges that “poetry is the best void for loneliness,” suggesting art is the best coping mechanism. While the fragmented structure might not appeal to all readers, those seeking a provocative exploration of existence and an idiosyncratic reflection on self-discovery will find this a welcome blend of philosophy and poetic expression. (Oct.)