Poet Tea Gerbeza has created a chronicle of life, hope, exploration, and loss in 'How I Bend Into More: A Long Poem'.
The long poem can be described as connective tissue for the poet and the reader. In the case of this work Tea shares her experience with scoliosis. There are passages that carry me as a reader within the nature of surgery, family life and anticipated discovery. The book itself presents pages lined to parallel a spine. There are images of scrolled paper that present as vertebral bodies. There are references to loss and abiding "I unstrap the plastic (corset) free myself bruised uncinched . . . " p. 34. Following surgery, a caregiver is present . . . "with a cool towel she soothes wipes biceps neck shoulder blades . . . " p. 100.
These latter words are love on the page. As I write this review I must 'break the spine' to hold the form of the book in a place that allows me to read the text. How ironic! Gerbeza provides an opening to a very precious place at some risk to herself (her being). Do read this book and be carried to a place of wonder.