scrow1022's review against another edition
5.0
Beautiful and searing and tender and mournful and angry. And rich, so much packed in (history and music and poetry antecedents), going to take a lot of re-reads to fully enter in.
lelex's review against another edition
5.0
"I woke up before anyone else and walked outside barefoot to the chilled porch still slick with a thin layer of morning dew. There was a little coral snake asleep, coiled by a rocking chair. I wasn't afraid this time."
"Jacuzzi-warm water gurgled and spun as his white robe spread around my little circumference, holy creamer."
"because you're gone & your mother is gone all because someone said you stole a backpack meaning your body was made a forgotten altar your body made bodiless kept pushing back as your trial kept pushing back & back & black matter moves backwards in time"
"Kalief Kalief Kalief this is such a poor offering but I am pouring it on the ground like a good rain & whatever softens the earth is your name whatever might grow from that darkening bright spot is your name"
"shows him how she splits herself (as I have) again and again for such a gorgeous, foolish God and man"
"Do they want you, she says, sucking her ghost teeth, or your black pain?" What's the difference? I say."
"I'm ready to find the ruined churches."
"Strange how desire is greedy and silent in stasis. Strange how two bodies can grow without branches."
"Jacuzzi-warm water gurgled and spun as his white robe spread around my little circumference, holy creamer."
"because you're gone & your mother is gone all because someone said you stole a backpack meaning your body was made a forgotten altar your body made bodiless kept pushing back as your trial kept pushing back & back & black matter moves backwards in time"
"Kalief Kalief Kalief this is such a poor offering but I am pouring it on the ground like a good rain & whatever softens the earth is your name whatever might grow from that darkening bright spot is your name"
"shows him how she splits herself (as I have) again and again for such a gorgeous, foolish God and man"
"Do they want you, she says, sucking her ghost teeth, or your black pain?" What's the difference? I say."
"I'm ready to find the ruined churches."
"Strange how desire is greedy and silent in stasis. Strange how two bodies can grow without branches."
crookedtreehouse's review against another edition
If you see this in a bookstore, and are trying to decide whether or not to read it, flip to the back and read the final poem. If that doesn't encourage you to buy the collection, my recommendations may not be for you.
jcovey's review against another edition
4.0
Navel gazing of heat and fury like a kaleidoscope full of fire
michellelouise's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
tamtasticbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
sam8834's review against another edition
5.0
Y'all, I'm really just mad at myself for not reading this sooner, because goodNESS. A rich, thick stew of a book I will definitely return to.
courtneyfalling's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
I love Tiana Clark's Bachelorette poem, and despite much different lengths and techniques in these poems, this collection did not disappoint.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism