for what it is by Joan Newton Published by Your Nickel’s Worth Publishing Review by Kris Brandhagen $16.95 978-1-894431-90-3 The first things I noticed about for what it is by Joan Newton were its title, and its cover image. The cover shows a painted image of a floating table on top of which sits a pair of reading glasses next to a book set facedown to save the page. The objects seem about to slide off the table, providing tension although it appears, at first glance, to be very calm and relaxing. Throughout for what it is, I noticed a variety of poetic devices. Newton pays close attention to how she uses vowels and consonants in each poem, including conversational language, affecting the way the poems sound. Newton’s approach to writing is playful; her lines sometimes continue without pause, and at times she uses rhythm, rhyme, and circular structure. In the poem “Moment” Newton explores a pleasurable experience with which many readers will likely identify: She upends the paper bag over her small son’s cupped hands shaking into them the last of the sugary crumbs. Snuffling up the sweetness, he rubs his face laughs and they are happy. This poem…