... poems so emotionally charged they seem on the verge of spilling over ... there is humor ... Palpable and provocative poems that can be appreciated by broad audience.
Eliza Griswold walks this tightrope, sometimes successfully, other times, not. But because her poems often take place in war zones, she’s always provocative — even when she is tendentious ... Not all is earnest here, but Griswold’s sense of humor is uneven — it comes across most successfully in 'Reflection.' She includes a sequence of poems about Italy that are not as involving as those set in Afghanistan. Nonetheless, If Men, Then is well worth reading by those who believe that poetry has something to tell us about our many internal and external conflicts.
... incisive ... [Griswold] highlights the way language distances viewers from the escalating violence that floods the news, suggesting various power structures inform which stories are told, and which elicit sympathy ... This well-timed exploration of violence and language is an exciting introduction to Griswold’s work.
