lukenotjohn's review
3.0
I can tell that Givhan is an immensely talented poet and this collection a poignant reflection of that, but there were a number of times I failed to connect with it, and I'm happy to own that failing for myself as someone who I'm realizing just prefers my poetry a bit more straightforward. That said, I'd say 60% of the pieces here fall within that territory, and I definitely still enjoyed the book as a whole. Even when meaning felt just out of reach to me, I could appreciate the sensory experience of Givhen's unique and intentional vocabulary, enjoying her craft as a wordsmith on display in each entry. The poems seem to follow three streams: one describing what it means to Givhan to be the adoptive mother her Black son, one following the unfolding events of a racially motivated accusation against her husband the ways it intersects with her own past trauma, and one more broadly incorporating mythical figures of the past and animals as metaphors to undergird those experiences.
My favorite poem was "My God, Nieve" and I also really enjoyed "Protection Spell (Riot's Eye)", "Prayer," "Half Mexican," "First Light in Tahoe City," "Snakes-Her-Skirt," "Easter Sunday," and "The Accusation."
My favorite poem was "My God, Nieve" and I also really enjoyed "Protection Spell (Riot's Eye)", "Prayer," "Half Mexican," "First Light in Tahoe City," "Snakes-Her-Skirt," "Easter Sunday," and "The Accusation."
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