REVIEW: Robert Duncan Gray – Ticklish Animal

I’ve seen Robert Duncan Gray in his underwear, screaming poetry from the top of his lungs, and then staring down the crowd like a mic drop. It was brilliant. His stage presence is powerful because he is – obviously – very comfortable with who he is, and more importantly, makes no apologies for it. His poetry, however, is not always comfortable, and that is refreshing. He makes you think. He engages with you, and implores you to think about the world in which you live.

Ticklish Animal, Gray’s newest chapbook, released via Bone Tax Press, is a strong example of his cerebral, personal, and poignant pieces. I’m not sure if it’s his best work (for that, read Trans, or Cabbage Language), but you’ll definitely get a glimpse of what Robert Duncan Gray can do.

My favorite piece from the book is “All the Dogs in Space”

Grab your copy of Ticklish Animal at Powell’s in Portland.