Poetry Review: The Ghost Was Always the Machine
By Elizabeth Suggs
The Ghost Was Always the Machine by RJ Walker is where technology meets print. RJ gives readers a chance to be more than just a passive consumer; rather, the reader comes alive with the story, solving puzzles and going through quizzes. You even get to call a number to get a machine response to a puzzle!
I’m a big fan of RJ’s work, and perhaps it’s because I enjoy watching him perform in person, or maybe it’s his writing itself, but I feel like his work really comes to life. There is depth and intensity and the demand for change. For instance, his poem “Ice” about homelessness was a deep-dive into all that was wrong with the homelessness situation in Salt Lake City, and that hit me hard.
Another favorite of mine was “Face Blind.” While I knew about his condition, hearing about it and how much he suffered helped me understand both him and those who suffer from the condition as a whole.
This book is meant to be loved and overused. In his introduction, he says, “The poems in this book must be exhumed, peeled apart, summoned, disassembled, and re-assembled. It is strongly encouraged that you take notes. Write in this book. Dog-ear the pages. Bookmark websites. Use the book as an umbrella. Eat pizza off of it.” In other words, do everything in your power to not just be a reader, but to be a participant in his story. A detective in his work. Make this book yours.
RJ is a skilled writer and a talented puzzle creator. He used to work at an escape room where the company allowed workers to create puzzles in rooms, and he shined there, just like he does in this book.
Definitely check this out, but make sure you have reliable internet and a pencil for notes ready.
My favorite quotes:
We are cold. We are hungry. Help us.
Faces don’t get stored in my memory
so everyone is a stranger.