2016 Political Poems

By: Doris Ervin

Narrated by: Doris Ervin

Length: 57 mins

Publisher's summary

Contemporary American culture, stressed to breaking by economics, immigration, race, religion, and gender, blew up into an unknown future as Americans went to the polls on November 8, 2016. What led up to and resulted in this historic election is the subject of this new collection of poems, 2016 Political Poems.

©2017 Doris Ervin (P)2017 Doris Ervin

Meh

Very one sided and more of a political statement than I was hoping for. The narration was well done.

This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review.

Politics Is Important!

Any additional comments?

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

As from the title, I had been expecting poems. It wasn't quite poetry, but I was listening to the audiobook so I couldn't see the prose, and in fact it might have been poetry. However, it didn't read as a collection of poems, rather more a collection of thoughts.
I did love this collection. I believe that politics is important, and 2016 proved that. With the election of Donald Trump in America and the Brexit referendum in Britain, and the various other political events in 2016, 2016 was important. However, the most important group in politics is the people. They drive the government. After all, the government wouldn't be there if not for them, and they can easily change their mind. I believe that and this book agrees. Politics is important.

Trying to capture a moment

Two disclaimers right out the gate. 1st this book was gifted to me for my favorite price of free.  Its freeness has no bearing on my review.  2nd I am not a connoisseur of poetry.  I want to be, and have tried various works but haven't ever really been able to get into it.  

Ervin does an amazing job capturing the feeling of American's going into the 2016 election.  How many were still looking for work and someone to be their voice.  Ervin writes of many of the things that were discussed during the election campaign.  Draining of the swamp, who's swamp, the one in your back yard or mine. What if your swamp is murky and ugly and mine looks pretty, what if they drain the swamp and put up a parking lot?  She discusses Fake News and its ramifications.  Even Russia gets a nod in this book.  

I love how Ervin does not come right and say which side she is for but tries to capture the overall feeling of all sides. 

A Poet's Perspective on the Political Election

Any additional comments?

The author was inspired by this political election to write several poems. Most notably in this collection is her poem about Hillary Clinton in the woods after the election, “A Meeting in the Woods.” The poet also discusses the press, fake news, and trust during the election. This is a liberal collection of poems. The poems are well written and interesting. The audiobook is also fast-paced.

"This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review."

From Pain to Resistance

Would you listen to 2016 Political Poems again? Why?

Yes, the 2016 election lives on.

What was one of the most memorable moments of 2016 Political Poems?

Hillary's meeting in the woods after the 2016 election.

Have you listened to any of Doris Ervin’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes. She has narrated two other books buy other authors. This book written and narrated in her own voice was special!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Both

Any additional comments?

Yesterday, I was with Her. After the 2016 election, I was devastated by the result and wanted to understand WHY. I searched for answers and read an insightful book of poems by Doris Ervin, '2016 Political Poems', which gave me insight into what Americans may have been thinking and feeling. The poems that highlighted the pulse of many voters were 'Where is the Middle Class', 'Drain the Swamp', 'The Primal Scream', Blankets for Wall Street', and 'Punditry, Press, Fake News'. (See my Amazon review from January 22, 2017)

Today, I am the Resistance. After more than 100 days of a Trump presidency, I listened to the audiobook version of '2016 Political Poems' and found a voice to my resistance in the following poems: 'Just Lie', 'The Scared Trust', 'The Russians are Coming', 'A New Normal' and 'It's Up to Us'.

Tomorrow, WE all need to be the leaders who bring back our American Democracy. I found this vision in Doris's poem, 'A Meeting in the Woods', the poem that urged me to keep fighting. It describes a chance meeting that Hillary Clinton had during a walk in the woods with a mother and daughter a few days after the 2016 election. This poem felt half the country's pain but in the final stanza offered hope. Do you agree with me that the mother, in the woods, showed us we have to work for our dreams? The final stanza reads:

"My daughter is securely on my back,
for now, Perhaps, she will be the
one to lead us out of the woods and,
once again, into our dreams."

I'm a proud American and I will not sit silent. I will fight for the American Dream.

Wow what an election

I normally don't listen or read things to overly political as a rule. Sometimes I entertain the idea but have to stop about half way through. I don't normally listen or read a lot of poetry any more either, but when I find an author I like I do tend to read everything they have. Now, with that out of the way, I have to say two things about this audio book. The first and probably most important one is that I liked this very short book. Although being mostly one sided, this beautiful illustrated much of what American's were feeling and thinking about during the 2016 election. And possibly what many are still feeling. The second is more of through back to my previous statement on me not having listened to a lot of poetry before. I know there is a lot of different types of poetry. Some rhyme and some have other things that make them poetry. I know the title, description all say POEMS and POETRY, but seriously? I don't know if this just didn't translate very well or if it is simply my lack of what poems are like now, but this came across more as a political essay or commentary than actual poetry. I still really liked it. Doris Ervin did an amazing job not only with writing it, but also with the narration.

If you want something that really states most of the thoughts of those who backed HRC and were really lost after the election results came in or just want something that gives a raw, non-aggressive and true viewpoint on the American political climate and attitudes around the 2016 election then 2016 Political Poems should be added to your read list!

Good Read

Any additional comments?

2016 Political Poems by Doris Ervin was a book compromised of many political poems. It followed the time of the 2016 election and leading up to it. This was a good read although it is mostly one sided.

A brilliant Collection of Political Interpretation

I enjoyed listening to 2016 Political Poems. This was excellent penmanship by Doris Ervin. I had a few favorites. I especially liked 'Selective Hearing', 'The Sacred Trust', 'Drain the Swamp, and 'Gridlock'. They were ALL good though. And true.

It very nice to hear the author read her own work. She haa a beautiful, thoughtful voice. Her inflections were perfect as was her emphasis in bringing these truths home.

"This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review."