Viciously Poetic
Publisher: Centre for Stories and Red River Press
Published: December 2023
Genre: Poetry
In a world where artificiality jauntily reigns, threatening to drown the soul, Raf Gonzalez’s poetry offers a lifeline. His collection Viciously Poetic is a rich exploration of identity, culture, and the human experience in a voice that is both sincere and unselfconscious – indeed, Raf even cites Walt Whitman as an influence.
Viciously Poetic is divided into eight sections, each of which offers a unique perspective on a life that, to quote Uncle Walt, ‘contains multitudes’.
The first section, Borderline Broke, finds Raf candidly addressing the difficulties of not having money and the additional challenges of living with Asperger’s. And yet poems like Waiting for the Freo Doctor and Snow speak to an experience known to many West Australians, juxtaposing the sweltering heat of Perth with the longing for the cool serenity of snow: ‘My desire for frost and serenity grows as puddles of sweat stream down my back.’
In the second section, Raf explores themes of sleep deprivation and societal expectations. In Peacockin’, he critiques the impossible beauty standards faced during job interviews and social events. Poems like the deliberately anachronistic Lovers of the Eclipse – ‘Come the veil of twilight, as Scion must fall to sleep/Dreaming of a lover who he could never reach so deep’ – reflect on the quiet beauty of the night and the inner turmoil of self-doubt.
The next group, Thrown in the Deep End, delves into the anxiety associated with experiences such as a new job and the resilience required to overcome them. For example, in the title poem Raf admits ‘I should be happy that I am working again,/but a part of me is still nervous and jumpy.’
The following section, Burnt Out, feels like a companion to the previous one, Raf exploring the importance of embracing one’s true self, even when it means showing vulnerability. Poems like Vicious and Spiteful Mirror encourage readers to accept their flaws and love themselves one day at a time. This section is a powerful reminder that it’s okay to be ‘viciously’ oneself.