Reviewing Visceral: The Poetry of Blood by RJ Arkhipov

Nothing short of iconic, RJ Arkhipov pushes me to be a better poet and because of him, my mind has access to places it never before did. I am blessed to finally have received my copy of ‘Visceral’ and I thank RJ for his commitment to his work and for offering his transparency yet again. 

Professionally, he is astonishing and his work – his beautifully conceived work – is rich. It gives me a grand pleasure and ultimately a sense of pride to read an offering of this caliber of eloquence and articulation. That’s not to suggest that I expect anything less of the Welshman who wields the scholarly distinctions of life-changing course study and achievement. I humbly consider a rebirth in Paris of my own as a sort of calculated method to enhance the way I communicate my own verse (I joke). 

I have an unlimited appreciation for the fulfilled duty of this book; a respective portrayal of the twenty-first century. Albeit words have a reputation for meaninglessness and emptiness, the words of this book function like a connective fiber tethering myself to Arkhipov somewhere across the world as his words seem to resonate with me quite clearly; quite profoundly. Proven by its power to establish meaningful connection, this work indeed “very much” resembles “a living, breathing, pulsing body” as Arkhipov explicates in the introduction. 

The final command of the introduction is to take care of the body that Arkhipov calls his own. The body that (just like any other properly functioning body) is comprised of intersectional and interdependent viscera is the body that we as readers of this incredible revolutionary collection have the pleasurable responsibility to care for. I do so joyfully. I conduct rereads, and rereads, caring to take in each detail made available for me, yearning to understand more about the colorful experiences that are ‘Visceral’. 

This book is relevant, appropriate and of its time. It’s a careful construction and each section (viscera) is fully described for the reader to have just enough direction to properly engage with the subsequent verses, but simultaneously, plenty of room to keep their mind open to the transparent ideas and revelations that RJ so heedfully relinquishes in this offering.