Why We Chose It: “Life Outside the Dream Box” by BrYce Berkowitz

We received a lot of great poetry submissions for our inaugural online issue of Saranac Review, all of which we loved reading. While I wish I could shine a spotlight on all of the amazing work we accepted for Issue 17, one poem in particular had a profound impact on me personally.

At first glance, I was drawn to Berkowitz’s exploration of more dark, melancholic themes working in tandem with numerous dramatic pauses which forced me to slow down and reflect, both on the words in which I read, but also my personal experiences relating to the poem. Berkowitz’s poem has the heart and merit of lived experiences, dealing with themes such as self-doubt, regret, anxiety, while subtly balancing the melancholy with inspirational messaging, truly twisting the poem into a much-needed wakeup call. 

One of the many beauties of poetry lies in the ability to express feelings and emotions through a selective, dramatic lens. Berkowitz’s poem takes advantage of this medium, while still maintaining a humbling level of self-awareness.

“Life Outside the Dream Box” is nothing short of inspiring, which is why we chose it for SR17! We hope you enjoy this piece as much as we have!