A review of “Trace” in 100 words by Catherine Stover
Reading poetry silently can be a mistake when part of the poem’s power lies in the rhythm and music of the verses. When Brenda Cárdenas read her poetry as a keynote speaker at the Wisconsin Writers Association conference, I felt as though I was under her spell. It was beautiful! Some of her poetry has been set to music that was performed at Carnegie Hall. Many of the poems in this collection, such as “Against Insularity,” are calls to action. She encourages us to enter worlds “we’ve never traversed, across the line we’ve never transgressed.” I am ready! Are you?
Work cited:
Cárdenas, Brenda. “Against Insularity.” Trace, Red Hen Press, 2023, p. 45.