Chiron Review #139

Chiron Review Issue #139 (Winter 2025), edited by Michael Hathaway, offers a rich and varied literary experience, with poetry and fiction that engage deeply with themes of memory, loss, identity, and the human condition. The poetry section is particularly noteworthy for its range of voices and styles, while the fiction presents compelling narratives that complement the emotional and thematic resonance of the poems. The poetry in this issue is marked by a strong sense of place and personal history, often exploring the tension between past and present, the physical and the emotional. There is a palpable intimacy and vulnerability that runs through much of the work, with poets navigating complex emotional landscapes with deft craft and evocative language.Mike Nichols’ poem 'Thirty Six Snows' stands out for its haunting meditation on loss and memory. Nichols uses the image of snowflakes melting on the skin as a powerful metaphor for the fleeting and fragile nature of connection and grief: 'I hold one palm / against the sky, / a supplication to snow / gods...' His voice is tender yet stark, crafting a moment of quiet reflection that lingers. Heather Sager’s 'Black Duck' offers a vivid snapshot of everyday life imbued with a quiet wonder. The imagery of the defunct farmhouse and the black duck at the pond is suffused with a gentle melancholy and a sense of continuity, grounding the poem in a specific landscape while touching on universal themes of change and observation. Scott Ferry presents a delicate and poignant portrayal of childhood and innocence in 'my son has learned to peel back / the green floor of the earth...' His use of simple yet precise language conveys a tender moment of discovery and care, balancing the natural world with human affection. Lauren Vercillo’s contributions, including 'El Dorado' and 'Lucy, Old Girl,' showcase a lyrical sensitivity and a nuanced exploration of longing and memory. In 'El Dorado,' the speaker’s desires are articulated with a vibrant immediacy: 'I want to speak to men whose names sound like liquor. / I want to travel eastward and look into dark eyes.' Her voice is both intimate and expansive, weaving personal yearning with poetic grace. Michael Hettich’s poems, such as 'First Loves' and 'Werewolves,' combine narrative detail with contemplative depth. Hettich’s work often reflects on family, loss, and the passage of time with a quiet, measured tone. His ability to evoke the texture of memory an