TWENTY SQUARE FEET OF SKIN

A writer investigates the physical nature of both humans and the world that surrounds us.

“To consider my tattoos we must first consider skin. Skin is our barrier against the world, enveloping our body so that we won’t lose our precious water and evaporate like dew.” So writes Baxter, the author of The Coolest Monsters and Farm Girl, at the beginning of this poetic study of the marks carried by human bodies, from the hair on our heads to the blisters on our feet. Each essay probes a different physical manifestation of human life—both pain and promise—and how we work to distract, defend, or recover the self. Baxter uses her bodily memories, scars, and quirks to ponder her relationships, including her childhood friendships, complicated bond with her mother, and romantic love both lost and found. The author also reflects on context, both natural and human-made, and creatures with whom humans share the world. In “A Model Home,” Baxter considers how where one lives can shape a person’s identity. A clear devotee of craft, the author embraces a variety of forms—short, long, braided, poem-in-prose—and peppers her personal information with a variety of artistic, biological, and historical references. She displays meticulous care in building each meditation, creating lines that seem to dance from the page. If some of her poetic orchestrations seem overdone, lacking an anchor, both her corporeal subject and her experiences within nature offer rich grounding. Baxter’s skill and depth will unite her with readers, resulting in a shared consideration of what our bodies say about us and how we take the measure of our lives. Though some of the writing is overly flowery, this is a poignant text with enough experimental streaks to keep things interesting.

A pensive inquiry, often breathtakingly beautiful and relatable, into how and where and with whom we fit.