The Rain at Midnight [Englisch] [Taschenbuch]

Los Angeles poerty maven Carlye Archibeque of Indepedent Review Service writes: This is the fourth book of poetry by Joseph Hutchison and the first time I have come in contact with his work.So poetry goes.THE RAIN AT MIDNIGHT is organized into five sections. The poetry in each section is excellent but I favor the first two sections: "St. Failure's Hospital" and "The Oldest Fear" and the last, "Brightness and Shadow", for their straight forward approach to telling a story. The piece I keep returning to is in the first section and is titled "Daffodils"."Let's speak of anguish at the root / of daffodils..." the poet begins, and falls hopelessly into the most spectacular diatribe about hopelessness. "Let's talk about how sick we've become / of breath....Let's lie down in the dirt and blossom in silence." Everything in Hutchison's world is alive with longing and regret, especially the writer. In "The One Armed Boy", the protagonist lies almost asleep and "the arm / that never was reaches out, / touches something even the boy / can't name. Like rain at midnight / falling into a field of poppies, it / gently bathes his non-existent hand." His is the language of bones, flesh and blood caught up in a world that feels cruel, but may just be unconcerned. His work also reflects a sense of humor of the sort that has made bitterness bearable in the work of better known writers like Billy Collins or Tony Hoagland. In "Sandman", the writer tries to coax the saint of insomniacs into a drunken sleep so that he too may sleep, but finds, "He's taken a powder...and wants to talk, / talk, talk about his sleepless life. Well, / what can I do? I hug him like a brother. / I let him cry on my shoulder till dawn." I could go on for a while about Hutchison's way with words, but it would be much better if you took them out for a spin for yourself.

"Icy water races past your racing heart,
under raised arms that ache to balance
whatever you carry, what you must (you
suddenly understand) be willing to let go.
Chin-deep. Perched on a slippery stone
that shifts with each shivering breath.
no choice but to take the next step-
deeper into the black river"
~Black River

"The Rain at Midnight" is a collection of poems that so aptly describe the male perspective. Joseph Hutchison delves into a variety of situations ranging from the observations he makes in nature to the inner experiences he weaves into poems. Each poem is an adventure into the reality of existence. At times his words are playful, profound or show a focus on presence.

I loved how he talks about tidal pools photographing his face or how the sun is like "apricot fire dripping." He uses such vivid images and often sexuality is never far below the surface of his thoughts. I like the unbridled words in "Internal Combustion." It seems anger is sparked and it burns or sinks down inside him writhing like a demon.

Joseph Hutchison explores everything from the awakening jolt of youthful discovery to the slow passionate ritual of languishing in love. He also explores the tragedy of a failed relationship.

"Brightness and Shadow" reveals the romantic nature of love, while other poems touch briefly on the tragedy of broken promises. I love "Brightness and Shadow" and would recommend the book for just this one poem alone. Here, he is remembering a night of love while he finds various items all over the room. It is loving and sexy and quite exquisite.

There is a sad, yet sweet acceptance in "An Amusing Anecdote" as he sits with his ex-wife after their divorce is final and "perhaps" an analysis of decisions leading to the situation, in "Good."

"I might have denied myself your kiss, your caress.
I might have sneered, "What's happiness worth?"
I might have let my duties define my desires.
I might have hurt no one. I might have been good."

How could a man living at this depth of awareness be satisfied with less than a downpour of love? Yet, his heart makes choices and leads him to love and wounds, failures and bitter struggles that keep the peace at bay.

In the first poem, he showers while trying not to wake his family and in the last poem, he pretends to sleep while listening to the rain at midnight as the rain drops become the chattering voices of three beautiful sisters.

"or maybe they'd simply blend back
into rain, a dark rain, the lull of it,
the sweet nothing noise and the kiss of it,
the tears and the healing sleep of it at last."

Joseph Hutchison knows how to transform even the most casual observation into pictures where rivers of words tumble over slippery stones and you can imagine yourself lost in the river, stumbling near a shore of "ink-black" pines where "feverish stars have risen" and there is a cold comfort in the "bone-white moon."

It seems life gives us choices and then at times, it throws us into a dark river where we have no choice but to swim deeper into life itself.

These poems are about surviving life and appreciating beauty along the way. Even in the cold, black river, you can look up and see the stars.

~The Rebecca Review

I have read two of Mr. Huchison's books, "The Rain at Midnight" and his chapbook, "The Heart Within the Heart." "Rain" is a collection of observations about life, choices, reality and changes. I found it deeply satisfying. Several of the poems in "Rain" struck me with the pointed force that comes only with the truth. I feel that Mr. Hutchison has a unique talent for using imagry to convey an idea or a progression of ideas. "Heart" is particularly good at illustrating moods, philosophies, thoughts and a progression of ideas. Mr. Huchison is succint and graphic in a way that creates an image in my mind, then the complete thought emerges. This poetry is very accessible and I recommend it to everyone, expecially people new to poetry.