Arboreal by Corinna Board
Published by Black Cat Poetry Press

Review by A.R. Williams, PhD

Corinna Board’s Arboreal is a poetry collection that invites readers to immerse themselves in the sights, sounds, movements, and scents of the natural world. Centered around the theme of trees, this collection of ecological poems reflects a deep appreciation for the intricate beauty of nature. Throughout the collection, Board masterfully humanizes trees, treating them as equals rather than mere objects. Through her vivid personification, trees stand alongside us, sharing in our experiences of affection and grief, mortality and renewal.

Arboreal opens with the stunning poem “This is not a poem.” Rather than a “poem,” it is said to be a “forest,” setting the tone for what follows. In this piece, vowels “hoot,” consonants “peckpeckpeck,” and commas “dig their claws in.” This opening frames the subsequent poems, inviting readers into a world where words transform into living entities, creating a symbiotic relationship between language and nature.

While trees are the central theme, not all poems in Arboreal are about trees. Some explore our broader relationship with nature, such as in “Why I’m not afraid of the dark.” Others delve into the theme of memory, as seen in “I’ve been trying to write this poem for weeks” and “Time traveler.” Nonetheless, all the poems in the collection testify to the interconnectedness of our experiences with the natural world, emphasizing that our lives do not unfold in a vacuum but are intimately tied to the environment around us.

Each of Board’s poems is short yet powerful, each one carefully crafted. She pairs narrative with lyricism and an imagistic style, resulting in a series of vivid and evocative vignettes. Her poetry reads as if each word is chosen with care, reflecting Board’s economical and controlled writing style.

It’s been a while since I personally enjoyed a poetry collection as much as this one. Arboreal stands out for its ability to capture the essence of the natural world with such precision and passion. Board’s talent for weaving together affection, grief, mortality, and renewal into her poetry makes this collection a must-read.

Corinna Board teaches English as an additional language in Oxford. She grew up on a farm, and her writing is often inspired by the rural environment. Arboreal, her debut pamphlet, was published in January 2024 by Black Cat Poetry Press.