If you are searching for a literary artifact that feels more like an immersive art installation than a standard book of poetry, Kent Zimmerman’s Nine Lives is a striking release from Leavitt Peak Press. The volume presents itself with a clear visual identity from the start, utilizing a cover design based on an original screen print by Brad Harvey. Rather than a traditional collection of verse, Zimmerman invites the reader into “Word World III,” a space where language is treated as a physical sensation and a series of “catches” to be held onto. It is a brief but potent exploration that prioritizes the rhythm of woodwinds and the atmospheric weight of memory over a standard narrative.
The heart of the book beats with a surreal, minimalist energy, focusing on the fluid nature of identity and the process of “letting go.” Zimmerman’s writing often feels like a “ballet” of appearances, where the body “aspires” in its workings even when it remains stationary. The imagery is ethereal yet grounded in natural vibrations, featuring “sister moons” that follow the subject and messages that depart to tell of “another” in sleep. One of the most charming elements is the way the author treats words themselves as playground equipment, suggesting they function like a see-saw for those who can see what he means. It’s a work that thrives on the “coming and going forever” of abstract ideas.
As the reader nears the end, the book takes a turn into “Meta Postal Expression” through a series of experimental postscripts. This final section hints at a future postcard-based project and incorporates bold visual elements depicting the “obliteration” of characters and the transformation of colors from black to blue. The conclusion, attributed to M. Zimmerman, introduces “Archetype Rules” via “The Hat Game.” This section transforms the reading experience into a participatory one, offering drama lessons that encourage people to draw and mime various archetypal roles after dinner. It is a playful final act that ensures the book functions not just as a text, but as a catalyst for performance.
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