madi's review
5.0
With endorsements on the back from Adrienne Rich, June Jordan, and Audre Lorde, I knew I had to pick this up. This collection is heart wrenching. Clarke uses poetry as a device for storytelling unlike other poets I’ve read. Her stories are specific yet universal, and though I don’t know the characters personally, I feel like I do now. There were a few times my heart stopped after reading a poem, which is why I am giving this collection 5 stars. They weren’t all standouts, but the ones that were REALLY were. This collection will make you feel all kinds of things. It is also brief: there are less than 40 pages of poems, but it contains hundreds of stories. Truly powerful.
My favorite poems: hair, April 4 1968: Washington, D.C., mavis writes in her journal, and a mother’s story.
My favorite poems: hair, April 4 1968: Washington, D.C., mavis writes in her journal, and a mother’s story.
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