cwalsh's review against another edition
5.0
The best kind of writing is the kind that challenges you, makes you feel uncomfortable, and elicits an emotional reaction that you didn't see coming.
Each and every piece in this collection exhibits the best kind of writing.
Each and every piece in this collection exhibits the best kind of writing.
willworm's review against another edition
4.0
I think I love vintage sadness more than this collection, but tbh nothing will take your breath away more than the last two poems
itschlve's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.5
kpdoessomereading's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
cblueweaver's review against another edition
5.0
Abdurraqib is incredible here. The poetry is lyrical and by turns earnest, grief-stricken, and experimental. Every poem sings.
ajlct's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
rachbreads's review against another edition
3.0
Abdurraqib is an amazing writer, and I always love his way with words. I think his writing works better for me in prose than poetry. Although this was his first published work..might be worth giving his second poetry collection a shot.
Anyway, as always, here are my faves!
When We Were 13, Jeff's Father Left the Needle Down on a Journey Record Before Leaving the House One Morning and Never Coming Back
Anyway, as always, here are my faves!
When We Were 13, Jeff's Father Left the Needle Down on a Journey Record Before Leaving the House One Morning and Never Coming Back
and so maybe this is why grandma said a piano can coax even the most vicious ghosts out of a body
On Melting
this is the season where I will make the face / of a girl on a cookie and pass it to her across a room full of strangers which is a weird way to say / I think I could love you until even the sun grows tired of coming back every / spring to forgive us for another season of hiding but it is not like me to be brave
XII
beautiful things die / every day and we / still stare while they / are living
The Author Writes the First Draft of His Wedding Vows
Everything has gone from me /// but the certainty of your goodness.
While Watching the Convenience Store Burn in Baltimore, Poets On the Internet Argue Over Another Article Declaring "Poetry is Dead"
are we calling it dead because white people got bored with its living
servemethesky's review against another edition
4.0
Oooof. This is hard poetry to read. It’s crushing, every word, every line. It reads very similarly to his essay collection, They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us. Heavy. Emotionally intense. Powerful.
The writing is excellent, don’t get me wrong. It’s a lot to process, though.
The writing is excellent, don’t get me wrong. It’s a lot to process, though.