What an interesting situation – a fulltime police officer in Phoenix, Arizona, who also doubles as a part-time poet and performer. Corbet Dean is a relative newcomer to the slam poetry scene, and has released his first book to coincide with his first appearance at this year’s National Poetry Slam. The first thing you’ll notice is the high production values – white text on black pages, completely produced on a color xerox machine and including striking color photographs. The second thing you’ll notice is that Corbet writes some remarkable poetry about being a cop, without once ever apologizing for his profession or his deep Christian faith. It’s an unusual thing to see in the mostly anti-establishment, atheistic American poetry scene, and (to tell the absolute truth) quite refreshing. Corbet examines the intense conflicts that police sometimes find themselves in, but from the inner brain of the human wearing the badge. The results sometimes miss the mark but most often strike a profound chord within the guts of the reader. Highly recommended. (JP)
Chapbook, US$6, 36 pgs, Corbet Dean, PO Box 14307, Phoenix AZ 85063