ccwingreads's review against another edition
4.5
Thank you to Caitlin Press for the gifted copy. The following is my honest review.
This poetry collection takes the reader through themes of mythology, folklore, horror, disability, and queerness. For me, the themes of loss and grief were the most effective. The rich, descriptive freestyle feels familiar to me. It differs from the minimalistic style that is popular in some modern poetry. I was able to visualize so many moments.
In an interview, the author says when their "imagery verges on the horrific or macabre, that's the horror of everyday life under a system that values some lives more than others."
There were several poems that pulled at some difficult memories and regrets I still have.
I would recommend this poetry collection to those who are interested in poems that take contemporary concerns and weave them into fantastical landscapes. There are darker themes, so be aware of that going into this.
This poetry collection takes the reader through themes of mythology, folklore, horror, disability, and queerness. For me, the themes of loss and grief were the most effective. The rich, descriptive freestyle feels familiar to me. It differs from the minimalistic style that is popular in some modern poetry. I was able to visualize so many moments.
In an interview, the author says when their "imagery verges on the horrific or macabre, that's the horror of everyday life under a system that values some lives more than others."
There were several poems that pulled at some difficult memories and regrets I still have.
I would recommend this poetry collection to those who are interested in poems that take contemporary concerns and weave them into fantastical landscapes. There are darker themes, so be aware of that going into this.
caseythecanadianlesbrarian's review against another edition
5.0
I love when you start a book with no expectations and it blows you away. This slim collection of poetry by a queer Canadian writer was just the thing. Spooky, mystical, autumnal, feminist, dark. Themes include witches (obviously), loss, longing, necromancy, ancient myth, suicide, nature, death, nightime, horror, ghosts, and the body. The imagery and play with words are incredible.
"We were witches once, you and I
stealing through the dark
on cat's paws
to taste the drink
of bitter mushrooms
on each others' lips"
"inside me is a world of oil-dark pistons,
a rhythm made than the heart.
my hands unfold embossed in red seams,
anemone flowers petaled in boneless fingers.
this is where they cut me, I told you.
this is where the flesh-tone doll's parts were grafted;
blank ugly sutures
a torturer's braille"
"every vast and ancient magic
that this world of men has killed
and pined for
alive somewhere
just out of sight"
"It was dark, and the world sang to itself
to keep from being frightened"
"I dream
of pressing my lips
to the burst hyacinth
of your mouth"
"I want the ululations of a thousand throats
to guide me across black waters
whose shores I'll never reach"
"Listen, I died here a long time ago
and I've just been haunting the place
ever since
sitting on the dryer's
in the basement
staring at my phone.
That light you think you see sometimes
and then it's gone
when you look again,
that's all it is;
I felt death's bony hand
close around my thigh, once
and I just laughed"
I loved this! A perfect dark queer feminist pagan autumn read.
"We were witches once, you and I
stealing through the dark
on cat's paws
to taste the drink
of bitter mushrooms
on each others' lips"
"inside me is a world of oil-dark pistons,
a rhythm made than the heart.
my hands unfold embossed in red seams,
anemone flowers petaled in boneless fingers.
this is where they cut me, I told you.
this is where the flesh-tone doll's parts were grafted;
blank ugly sutures
a torturer's braille"
"every vast and ancient magic
that this world of men has killed
and pined for
alive somewhere
just out of sight"
"It was dark, and the world sang to itself
to keep from being frightened"
"I dream
of pressing my lips
to the burst hyacinth
of your mouth"
"I want the ululations of a thousand throats
to guide me across black waters
whose shores I'll never reach"
"Listen, I died here a long time ago
and I've just been haunting the place
ever since
sitting on the dryer's
in the basement
staring at my phone.
That light you think you see sometimes
and then it's gone
when you look again,
that's all it is;
I felt death's bony hand
close around my thigh, once
and I just laughed"
I loved this! A perfect dark queer feminist pagan autumn read.
_bookzeal's review against another edition
Mayflies bursting, glass-winged
from their husks
green consumed
in the fiery mantles
of autumn trees
I no longer believe
in any dialects
besides these
moments of peace
like lulls in the assembly line
when I live through the memory
of your skin against mine
This is a brief but really good poetry collection, different from poetry I’ve read in the past and I’m glad I stumbled on it.
from their husks
green consumed
in the fiery mantles
of autumn trees
I no longer believe
in any dialects
besides these
moments of peace
like lulls in the assembly line
when I live through the memory
of your skin against mine
This is a brief but really good poetry collection, different from poetry I’ve read in the past and I’m glad I stumbled on it.
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