Bachelor Holiday is a collection of poetry by William Huhn that pulls you into a world of fragmented beauty, intimate reflections, and quiet explorations of life’s often overlooked moments. The poems are divided into four parts, each delving into themes of love, loss, time, and nature, with subtle shifts in tone and focus. Huhn’s writing feels personal yet universal, as he captures fleeting emotions and images with a sense of gentle nostalgia and raw realism.

The writing is unpretentious yet rich in emotion. Huhn’s imagery is vivid but often minimal, as seen in “Bye Love You” from Part One, where he depicts a simple yet powerful moment: “You will have all/ the leaves from her hair/ falling—to catch.” The balance between the tangible and the abstract is striking throughout the collection. I found myself swept up in the small, delicate observations, yet always aware of a deeper, more elusive meaning lurking just beneath the surface.

Huhn’s style is refreshingly conversational at times, even playful. “Dry Spell” captures the absurdity of trying to enjoy a beach day amidst a raw sewage spill: “No Swimming/ said the sign/ the fish and gulls/ couldn’t read.” His humor feels natural, a way of grounding the reader in everyday life while still playing with larger ideas. Yet, when he wants to, he turns effortlessly towards the profound, as in “Expedition,” where he reflects on friendship and perseverance in an almost haunting way.

Bachelor Holiday is an impressive debut that will speak to readers who appreciate poetry that intertwines the beauty of small moments with broader reflections on life and human experience. I think it’s for anyone who enjoys a bit of mystery in their poetry, a mix of playfulness and introspection. Fans of poets like Mary Oliver or Billy Collins, who balance light and dark, personal and universal, will find Huhn’s work a satisfying read.

Pages: 86 | ISBN : 1609644689