A review by theskyboi
All the Flowers Kneeling by Paul Tran
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
Thank you to Penguin Books and Paul Tran for the free book for review.
All the Flowers Kneeling is poet Paul Tran's debut collection, containing confessional, intimate musings on the links between emotion and fact. As challenging as they are enticing, each poem leads perfectly into the next, creating a work that begs you to view it piece by piece as much as it implores you to take the whole book in as a cohesive epic.
Rarely do I think that calling a work important suffices as a compliment; I do find this collection to serve a huge purpose in terms of representation, but I do believe it accomplishes more than just that. Seeing a queer artist's take on spirituality, science, trauma, abuse, and beauty published so widely is truly a magnificent sight for me. However, this is not to be overshadowed by how universal yet deeply personal each of these poems is. Being able to connect with Tran and their perspective of the world brings me joy as a reader along with the serenity of knowing that there is a wider queer community having their voices reflected in verse.
Given that the collection is so perfectly interwoven, I find it almost traitorous to isolate any of the poems as individual favorites, but "Endosymbiosis" leapt off the page and stared directly into the chambers of my memory, begging me to feel alongside Tran's perfect diction. A true marvel of modern literature, this debut is something I will cherish as a personal classic for years to come. If you do read any poetry this year, All the Flowers Kneeling comes with my highest remarks.
All the Flowers Kneeling is poet Paul Tran's debut collection, containing confessional, intimate musings on the links between emotion and fact. As challenging as they are enticing, each poem leads perfectly into the next, creating a work that begs you to view it piece by piece as much as it implores you to take the whole book in as a cohesive epic.
Rarely do I think that calling a work important suffices as a compliment; I do find this collection to serve a huge purpose in terms of representation, but I do believe it accomplishes more than just that. Seeing a queer artist's take on spirituality, science, trauma, abuse, and beauty published so widely is truly a magnificent sight for me. However, this is not to be overshadowed by how universal yet deeply personal each of these poems is. Being able to connect with Tran and their perspective of the world brings me joy as a reader along with the serenity of knowing that there is a wider queer community having their voices reflected in verse.
Given that the collection is so perfectly interwoven, I find it almost traitorous to isolate any of the poems as individual favorites, but "Endosymbiosis" leapt off the page and stared directly into the chambers of my memory, begging me to feel alongside Tran's perfect diction. A true marvel of modern literature, this debut is something I will cherish as a personal classic for years to come. If you do read any poetry this year, All the Flowers Kneeling comes with my highest remarks.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Incest, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Emotional abuse, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: War