If the staff of TMZ were poets, this might be a selection of their stories. The poems center around numerous well-known celebrities, including Wynona Rider, Natalie Portman, Shia LeBeouf, Jeff Bridges, and more. Moments in their lives intertwine in sometimes humorous, sometimes provocative accounts. Numerous actual events are referenced, including the filming of Stranger Things and the current crisis in Venezuela. Tying them all together is the central theme of spirituality, or the lack thereof, within Hollywood.
Many of these poems flow like a story, and the often direct phrasing creates a blur between fiction and reality. A particular favorite of mine is “Somewhere in the Mojave”, a set of connected poems which tell the tale of Joaquin Phoenix retreating to a cave for solitude. A previous poem about Phoenix well summarizes the point that I got from this collection through the line, “Joaquin Googles, ‘What is the quickest path to enlightenment?’”
Vijay R. Nathan is an imaginative writer with a unique perspective. Those interested in the celebrity fan-fiction style of poetry will certainly want to check out Celebrity Sadhana.
