Dazzling Wobble

Judyth Hill's "Dazzling Wobble" grabbed me from the beginning with "Wake up heart" - "The alarm has gone off. What time is it? It is now! And you are late!" Ha! I can't be late for now, you say ... That's right!" Wow, me reading a book of poetry; who would have thought? I'm going out and have some fun today. I have to confess that I'm far more likely to be reading a mystery or textbook than a book of poems but, knowing Judyth and having learned so much from her workshops, I figured I would see what she had to say. I'm glad I did! Rather than simply say something the way I would as a trial attorney, Judyth wraps significant, valuable life messages in some of the wildest, most intriguing expressions of the English language imaginable. In "Olly Olly Oxen Free" I'm reminded to stop trying so hard and simply live as "me" - something we all say we want. In "If I were a fish, I would swim" she writes: "Talk me into garden after garden" and for whatever reason that makes me pause and appreciate the friends in my life who see or have seen the potential in me and "talked me" into being whatever garden they saw that I could not. What Judyth is really doing here, other than having fun, is showing us how to live a richer life.

When I first received Dazzling Wobble I read it through enthusiastically and dipped in and out of it over the ensuing months. I have several of Judyth Hill's books of poems and have always loved them. This summer has been a difficult one for me and I found myself drawn back to these poems and even began carrying the book around with me, reading whenever I had a free moment. Hill's own dazzle and joy of life jumps out of the pages and leaps into the mind of the reader. This collection is intelligent, sensual, sexy, full of longing, desire, sugar and bread -- gorgeously swirling imagery. Hill manages to get right to the heart of love, loss, joy. I'm so grateful that she writes and touches our deepest places of emotion and beauty and invites us into her ecstatic world. Everyone needs this book. Highly recommended.

I've had the pleasure of meeting Judyth Hill and she is a true force of nature. Her poetry is the same - every bit of it just a bit sexier and grander and more profound and touching and humorous, like a tree that grows in front of your eyes with the most vibrant leaves and deep roots. I keep the book on my coffee table and now and then re-read a piece to discover something new, and always I find myself smiling. Nothing traditional about this poetry - charming, rich, fascinating, touching. Would be a great gift for a modern woman.

Wow! If you like poetry, you will love Judyth Hill's rollicking, rich and beautifully-crafted poems. If you've never liked poetry before, this is the book to start changing your mind. She instantly had me at "Wake up heart!," the very first poem. It is impressive how, in one slim volume, Hill can serve up so much nourishment for the senses. The poet seems to exist in a synesthesiast world where every color has a delectable taste, a full-bodied perfume, and a poignant wobble, Highly recommended.

I always feel younger and sexier when I read Judyth Hill's poetry. Every word is gorgeous, but also so human. I imagine Judyth talking to me when she says in her poem, "Slow Down and Meet the Fast God": "Slip between moons into solid fragrance." And then later in the poem, "Love the fierce beauty of the taken daughter that is yourself."Judyth is alive today; there is no "tomorrow" or "yesterday," only NOW. Reading "Dazzling Wobble" brings me back to my breath, my skin, the cool air on my face, and the love I have for small beings--for all beings. In her poetry, Judyth affirms that every moment of our lives is rich with what our senses bring us, what the world offers up if we are awake. Judyth is awake, funny, and willing to embrace with her love whatever comes next. What more do we need?

These are poems written from a passionate and open heart. Rarely have I read poems with the spiritual expansiveness of Judyth Hill's writing. In the footsteps of Rumi she is a faithful pilgrim. Words and images so delicious you feel you've you've been served a banquet!

Here's flesh-and-blood-and-spirit poetry from the ultimate earth goddess. As a writer, she celebrates love, life, and the senses like no other!

Dense, elegant, intricate, lush....everything you've ever wanted from poetry plus! I loved this collection: the celebration, the heart ache, the cataloging of the world's gifts. Judyth has done it again!

These are thought-provoking and stimulating poems. JH has a mischievous turn of mind sometimes and makes an interesting comparison with British women poets such as Carol Ann Duffy.