Reviewed by Sarah James

Lee Colin Thomas does not disappoint, his debut collection of poems ‘Honey In the Dark’ is a glittering glimpse of suburbia, normal moments superbly crafted in a voice that is both longing and introspective. Thomas grew up in Northfield, Minnesota, his extended family running a locally owned grocery store. In the early 2000’s there came a calling. While browsing in a bookstore, Thomas picked up an anthology that included classic poems by James Wright, Mary Oliver, May Sarton, Hayden Carruth, and it reignited a poetic flame he thought was long extinguished. His work became scattered in literary journals before finally coming together in 2019. Thomas wants us to note, this is a collection of the joys and sorrows of the human experience, what it means to live from different perspectives, the pondering of who we could have been or what could have been, if only we had taken that leap.

‘Honey In the Dark’ feels distinctly American, a familiar echo of the confessional poets that preceded Thomas’s time. Colourful, confident and playful, the images presented excite and tease- sometimes focused on a clear memory, other times dipping into philosophical wonderings. We spend much time with Thomas, mulling over dusk and afternoons, listening to the hum of cicadas and the beauty of the natural world; whilst constantly admiring the tender traits in others, sometimes by a poolside, sometimes over breakfast. Often visceral and sensual, Thomas lets us linger in his poetry, taking all the time necessary to flourish, even when recanting memories now long past. One thing is for certain, each page springs a new bouquet of images which never fail to inspire some ‘mischief within.’

Following like a string of consciousness, Brighthorse prize winning Thomas has divided his collection into three digestible parts. Opening with ‘Earthlings’ we are introduced to one of the main themes of the collection, the familiar setting of contemporary life; weddings, neighbourhoods and Minnesota nature. Many times, referencing the journey through middle age, Thomas seems focused on slowing down and reminiscing, this especially apparent in ‘Lodging’, which is peppered with winsome childhood memories. Ever the rich lyricist, Thomas makes the everyday fanciful, he notes what so often becomes overlooked, thistle, cone, plums and a beautiful “dandelion boned body.” Venturing further to the second and third part, we slip into a more dreamlike discussion, Thomas asking for us the think a little deeper. Even in the deep murmurings of psychological wondering, the poems remain intriguing and palatable, the jewel of this crown being, ‘This Might Sustain Us.’ Utterly delectable, Thomas describes the act of having breakfast, something so ordinary, with such tangible language we might as well be sitting at the table. He describes, “the tines of the fork” and almost seductively tells his dining partner, “split the yolk, watch it gush and glisten and cling.”

Lee Colin Thomas is a communications consultant and instructor at the University of Minnesota. ‘Honey in The Dark’ is the 2020 winner of the Brighthorse prize in poetry. The Brighthorse Prize is an annual award honoring unpublished novels, collections of short fiction, and poetry collections. Three prizes are given each year. Authors writing in English—regardless of nationality, residence, or publication history—may submit to the competition.