A review by josephvanburen
Breathe. Breathe. by Erin Sweet Al-Mehairi

5.0

In the foreword to this book, Brian Kirk admits that he doesn't understand most poetry. I tend to agree, despite being a poet myself, that poetry can sometimes be too personal or abstract to make a connection with a lot of readers. And then there is Erin Sweet Al-Mehairi's work in Breathe Breathe: the kind of poetry that is deeply personal yet universally resonant of the pain and darkness that we all encounter in our most difficult times. Her precise imagery adds a sense of beauty to those hopeless moments when we feel alone and uncertain. There is a raw realness to her work that struck a personal chord for me, especially in seemingly confessional poems like "You Say You Love Me" and "Anxiety of Darkness." As a fan of dark poetry that has heart and soul, I cannot recommend this book enough.