ondaatje's poetry is amazing. read it aloud.

This book has one of my favorite poems of all time in it--"The Time Around Scars". There's something deliciously provocative about Ondaatje's prose, and his poetry is no different. One of my favorites.

I'm not a huge poetry hound but this beautiful book of verse about signs along Interstate-40 in Kansas (where his wife is from) and a woman's love for her Cinnamon Peeler lover. .erotic, exotic and tense with passion. . .

Most of the poetry is flawless, which is rare for a collection. Even more surprising is that Ondaatje is a much better poet than prose author.

"those who are allergic to the sea, those who have resisted depravity" the intermission was particularly amusing.

If I were a cinnamon peeler
I would ride your bed
and leave the yellow bark dust
on your pillow.

Your breasts and shoulders would reek
you could never walk through markets
without the profession of my fingers
floating over you. The blind would
stumble certain of whom they approached
though you might bathe
under rain gutters, monsoon.

Here on the upper thigh
at this smooth pasture
neighbor to your hair
or the crease
that cuts your back. This ankle.
You will be known among strangers
as the cinnamon peeler's wife."

Although I liked the first half better than the second, I still can't give this book fewer than five stars. I love the way Ondaatje plays with language and his imagery is unequaled! Learned so much...

The first words of Michael Ondaatje that I read were photocopied from this book. I was sitting for a painter who gave me the title poem, The Cinnamon Peeler. Later, I took a course on Michael Ondaatje. I carried this book with me everywhere that semester, wrote all over it, admired the cover, shared the poems with whoever would listen. I still buy copies and give as gifts to friends and lovers.

'Sweet like a crow' is one of my favourite poems
also 'The time around scars' & 'The hour of cowdust' & 'Uswetakeiyawa'

The title poem is one of the best poems ever written.

The Cinnamon Peeler is more than a scent, more than a slab of intelligent wit or a collection of poems. It’s a language that is meant to be read.
::::Favorites:::

-Signatures
-For John, Falling
-Philoctetcs on the Island
-Loop
-Walking to Bellrock
-The Hours of Cowdust
-Pacific Letter
*** and the “Insomnia” section pages 128-129 is amazing.

Alongside "Mockingbird Wish Me Luck", this book lays constant vigil on my nightstand. Written about his mistress, but companion to anyone who has ever been awoken in the middle of the night by a low keening wail of want.