katrinia17's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.0
axmed's review
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
"Something shifted in me when I learned about Muhammad Ali’s life, and now I live in the truth of my own greatness."
Najma Sharif
Najma Sharif
adriatrees's review
5.0
Another amazing poetry anthology in the Breakbeat Poet series that centers Muslim voices across sexual, racial, and gender identities. Safia Elhillo, an editor along with Fatimah Asghar, ends the anthology with her poem “Now More Than Ever” where she discusses how others perceive her Muslim identity after the 2016 US election. Her last few lines are striking: “My being hunted did not make me a Muslim. Or more Muslim. The election did not make me a Muslim. Or more. Or less. Not Now More Than Ever. Since the beginning.”
A recurring theme that is important is that poetry by writers who are marginalized (by religion, race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality) do not have to make their art consumable to white consumers. In Marwa Helal’s poem “Say Ameen”, she writes how she is trading poetry through emails with a friend for feedback and “she worries the ending doesn’t land. That “they” won’t get it. I tell her the key is to center ourselves. Don’t worry about they. Focus on us. It’s like this: if you’re holding the camera then just keep it pointed at us, at yourself. Zoom in.”
What a treasure of a poetry anthology! I am excited to read more from the poets whose art was displayed in this anthology.
A recurring theme that is important is that poetry by writers who are marginalized (by religion, race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality) do not have to make their art consumable to white consumers. In Marwa Helal’s poem “Say Ameen”, she writes how she is trading poetry through emails with a friend for feedback and “she worries the ending doesn’t land. That “they” won’t get it. I tell her the key is to center ourselves. Don’t worry about they. Focus on us. It’s like this: if you’re holding the camera then just keep it pointed at us, at yourself. Zoom in.”
What a treasure of a poetry anthology! I am excited to read more from the poets whose art was displayed in this anthology.
aliciaprettybrowneyereader's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
This collection features Muslim poets. The beauty of the collection is the showcasing of the diversity of Muslims. Many of the poets take derogatory statements made about Muslims and turn them into brilliant works of poetry. Other poets in the collection write about family relationships. One of my favorites of the collection is the very sensual poem, Forbidden.
Lovers of poetry will enjoy this collection.
esmithumland's review
4.0
Lovely collection. I just wish there had been more poems and less essays at the end.