“What the Lifeguard Saw”

The Collected Poetry of Will Schneider

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Cyberwit.net (July 25, 2022)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 61 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9390601630
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-9390601639
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 3.21 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.16 x 8.5 inches

• Best Sellers Rank: #5,813,003 in Books

Reviewed by LB Sedlacek

Will Schneider offers a unique perspective on what his poems are and are not possibly in comparison to other poets and poetry or not, take your pick.  He writes with an untethered ambiguity lingering in the dark, jumping forward in the light. 

The title of the book is enough to make one take a second look (or even a third) especially for me as a former professional lifeguard.  When you’re sitting on that chair, yes you do “see” things.  Schneider appears to use the lifeguard analogy cleverly in a literal and figurative way.  As a poet, one has the responsibility, so to speak, to write in one’s own skin and to also be original.

His poems are written in a combination of free verse and rhyme.  There’s some prose as well.

From the poem “Full Daylight:”

“He had often noted
that lifeguards only
realize you couldn’t
swim long after you’ve
already drowned.”

This poem is a coming of age poem.  The character in the poem seems to have a full on realization of life changes he needs to make with his “anchor” becoming a “buoy.”

Schneider’s writing is fresh, and his meanings are clear.  Poems won’t exist to be remembered, referred to, quoted and/or re-read if there’s no message and he handles that quite nicely so yes his works are definitely making an impact.

Reading this poetry book is an emotional roller coaster.  Schneider writes on both ends, the good and the bad.  He delves into dark places, but they don’t necessarily leave you feeling scared or turned off, but rather thinking and wondering.  He himself says that a peer says that he “scrapes the bottom so well” in his artist’s statement at the beginning of the book.

In the poem “The Titanic Sinks Lower Than my Heart” he compares a relationship to this ever famous sinking ship.  In the poem “Jackie” he writes about addiction.  These are just some of the subjects he tackles. 

From the poem “Butterflying To a Diner with Heart on the Menu”
“I want to split my heart in two.
I’ll keep the smaller half and
give the bigger one to you.
Maybe then you will see,
that you are the only person
motivating it to beat.”

These poems are real and raw.  They churn up the mind, make you want to flip the page and read more.  Schneider stirs up his offerings enough so that book is entirely interesting all the way through.  He takes creativity to some new levels.