Assignment 4 Book Review

The book that I chose to read is called "How We Sleep on the Nights We Don't Make Love."  This book written by Ethelbert Miller explores many of the problems that African Americans face in this world.  He also describes like the title points out, his thoughts about love, and stories, in poem form, about his life.  

Miller does an amazing job of writing about love.  Many of the poems are very similar in the fact that they are short and sweet, but send a powerful message to the reader.  An example of this is an untitled poem that goes as follows.  "I've been

kissing

your eyes 

to long

haven't 

your 

lips 

noticed?

What I love about this technique is that line by line is taking you through his thought process.  He often points out a single part of the woman he loves, if it is her hair, her lips, her eyes etc.  and like above he comes up with a clever way to show his affection to it.  His words are obviously very thought out and romantic.  Another technique he uses to describe some of his powerful relationships are analogies.  One is called "Drummers."  When you first read the title you actually think it will be about a drummer but the words are talking about a drum like it is his heart.  

Miller does not just use these analogies to talk about love.  He writes a poem called "Toothpaste" where he brilliantly compares the position of lying on the couch after dinner to the shape of a toothpaste bottle.  Than he ends the poem by saying " I like to brush, after every meal."  Miller uses these analogies in this playful way but also to point out many issues that are serious to him.  

Miller writes poems that concern the racism that he has suffered as an African American man.  The poems that take on a more serious note seem to be longer.  He tells these poems like stories.  There is a central theme and he ends by writing an analogy that relates back to this theme.  This is exemplified in the middle of his group of poems where he talks about his best friend Omar.  He explains how Omar is a great reader but he tells also how they like to get on eachother's nerves.  He ends this poem by saying how he poked fun at Omar and while runnin away "I turn the corner, as fast as Omar, can turn a page."  

After reading Miller's poems I felt that I got to know him.  While seeing that he had a consistent style of intertwining analogies in his poems the biggest thing that stood out was that he did not hold back.  Miller shares his secrets, life stories, through these poems.  Each poem is obviously well thought up.  Some poems are only three lines but mean so much.  "How We Sleep on the Nights We Don't Make Love" is pointing out through the title how we as individuals use this time to ourselves to reflect on our days and lives.  He gives this poem and then gives us his important thoughts through his work.