Poetry with a twist! - 'Mythologies' by Petra Palkovacsova
I have a strange relationship with poetry. I don’t usually go out of my way to find poetry, but it has a way of reaching me - on the underground, at an open mic or a poetry event, and even through the people around me. The other thing is that I like the kind of poetry that plays with the norms and has something different.
Petra Palkovacsova’s ‘Mythologies’ has everything I need when it comes to enjoying poetry! The collection plays with folklore and universally-known fairy tales, reframing current events through a lens of dark fantasy with a sprinkle of feminism. Petra isn’t afraid to spell things out, so her poems discuss some heavy themes such as sexual abuse, mental health, identity, and much more. The familiar air of characters like Little Red Riding Hood or Gretel allows the reader to get immersed into a poetic world before facing the heartbreaking reality.
You can read ‘Papi Wolf’ on Petra’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thenameispetra/. And then just order the whole collection.
The poem is ‘a response to the 2017 article by the Guardian… [revealing that] [t]he son of the founder of the Greggs bakers chain has been jailed for 13-and-a-half years after being branded a “sophisticated, predatory paedophile” by a judge’. ‘Papi’ is introduced as a popular troublemaker wolf-boy with plenty of rumours circling around him. As PP (Little Red) asks him for an interview, the rumours start to get confirmed and she also becomes the wolf’s victim. Papi eats PP, but, like her fairytale counterpart, she escapes his stomach and avenges all those who were abused by the wolf.
Another thing I love about this collection is how most of the poems have something resembling a storyline. As someone who prefers prose over poetry, this makes me feel comfortable, in control of how I understand the text, I’d say. Her writing is also packed with symbols that are extremely satisfying to decipher. Every time I re-read one of the poems or listen to Petra at some event, I notice something new and I feel something different. It’s impossible to get bored of her work!
I also had the honour to proofread one of the first drafts of ‘Mythologies’. This gave me the opportunity to close-read every line in the collection and see just how much attention Petra has put into choosing the right words. Everything clicks into place, which makes for an excellent reading experience. I’d also suggest reading some of the poems out loud so you can hear the rhythms and musicality of each poem.
If you’re looking for poetry with a twist like I usually am, Petra Palkovacsova’s ‘Mythologies’ is exactly what you’re looking for. I’d also recommend this to anyone who thinks poetry is boring or inaccessible, just to see that not all poetry is like that. Of course, you should also read this collection if you’re a poetry fan. It’s true, some parts of it are triggering, but Petra explores some incredibly important topics that need to be talked about and she does that with compassion and empathy.
Petra self-published this collection for full creative independence. The book features pictures by Jeanine Celine and Vendula Marková, carefully integrated to add more to each poem. The typeset is also extremely well thought out!
To order a copy, just message Petra on Instagram or LinkedIn. The collection costs £10 and can be shipped internationally.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenameispetra/
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