Review of Inner Species

a book by Erin Miller

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This book feels like spending a morning at dawn where the sky is still ripe with yearning, and birds haven't yet filled the quietude of the morning air. It is an exploration not only of the self, but of the world, and how those two forces intertwine and present themselves. The poet speaks with a kind of soft understanding; these serene moments where stillness breathes introspectiveness to life. Despite the peaceful setting, his book is about tension. Although never mentioned explicitly, the feeling permeates the entire text.

From Aubade:

What is regret if not a dark, green place where everyone is wanting? Digging in the cool dirt only to come up with longing, like a tongue, in hand. The pink sky, a mouth. The subtle violence of waking.

I described the experience of reading this book to a friend saying, "Imagine you are sitting on the fire escape of a musty New York apartment, meditating to the sounds of far off car engines." A feeling of nature combined with 21st-century industrialization. There is also a sense of physical time passing; the poems begin at dawn and slowly transition to the midday. One of the most fascinating moments happen near the midpoint of the book. We transition from the early morning and evening, to the full embrace of the night. In the dark, the poet writes not knowing that if the person they are — or choose to be — is good enough for the people around them. In this exploration, we see them meditate on different species. They choose to be neither the wolf nor rabbit, but both. Erin asks us: Who are we when our lover's find us in the gaping maw of night?

It's been about a week since I finished Inner Species, yet I keep finding myself coming back to it. Drawn by its haunting atmosphere and somber, reflective lyrics. It is a rather short endeavor, only being 40 pages in total, but what Erin manages to accomplish in those 40 pages is nothing short of extraordinary.

Sometimes, even the worst thing about you wants to be found.

I would recommend this book for readers of all types.

— Evelyn

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If you would like to purchase this book, and support Erin, please view the links below: Website: https://www.erinlmiller.com/ Book: https://unicorn-press.org/books/Miller-Inner-Species.html