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4.58 AVERAGE
4.58 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
One of the best poetry collections I've read. Each poem was a tiny universe trapped on a bead in the stunner of a necklace that was this work.
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Self harm
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Andrea’s poetry is where I go to feed my soul. This book was as nourishing as any of her others — filled with love and grief and more — and often left me with goosebumps and tears. For me, it’s essential to LISTEN to Andrea’s books AND to have a hard copy on hard to hand to revisit favorite lines and highlight. I bought both the audiobook and a hard copy and it was the best decision, highly recommend. Knowing Andrea is battling incurable cancer now made this read all the more poignant. She is in my mind a true national treasure and we are so lucky to have her words, spirit, and love.
Note: Andrea’s poetry handles lots of immense topics from suicide to childhood sexual abuse. They’re handled so powerfully but I am mentioning as a content warning for anyone especially sensitive to tough topics like these.
Note: Andrea’s poetry handles lots of immense topics from suicide to childhood sexual abuse. They’re handled so powerfully but I am mentioning as a content warning for anyone especially sensitive to tough topics like these.
This was my first Andrea Gibson (how did I not know about them?!) and I am a BIG fan. They are going right up there with Mary Oliver for me, in poets I adore that I can (and will) return to again and again.
Deep, resonant words that I haven't fully digested yet. Love!
"I know most people try hard
to do good and find out too late
they should have tried softer."
(p. 5)
"Bitterness is the easiest way
to leave this world having had only
a near-life experience."
(p. 19)
"...a difficult life is not less
worth living than a gentle one. Joy is just easier
to carry than sorrow..."
(p.31)
"I don't want to forget
anything about this. Especially not how it
feels to worry about everyone I love at the
same time--so much of the world had been
doing that already."
(p. 63)
Excerpts from one of my favorites, The Test of Time:
"I still believe what the world has taught me
to believe--that life will not take my breath away...
...love will still throw me over her shoulder and carry me up
every story I've ever told myself so I can see what's true,
and what's true is I can't always tell the difference
between my gifts and my tragedies...
...now my words
are so good at coming to my rescue,
fire trucks pull over to let my voice through...
...just like everyone else I have no clue
what tomorrow will sing, or scream, what I will feel
or what I won't...
...but there is a test we can all take to find out the future.
It's called the test of time. And what you do is live
until you die. And you refuse to let the hands of your clock
curl into fists to fight the lessons off. Even if the lessons
are brutally hard."
(p. 75-77)
Deep, resonant words that I haven't fully digested yet. Love!
"I know most people try hard
to do good and find out too late
they should have tried softer."
(p. 5)
"Bitterness is the easiest way
to leave this world having had only
a near-life experience."
(p. 19)
"...a difficult life is not less
worth living than a gentle one. Joy is just easier
to carry than sorrow..."
(p.31)
"I don't want to forget
anything about this. Especially not how it
feels to worry about everyone I love at the
same time--so much of the world had been
doing that already."
(p. 63)
Excerpts from one of my favorites, The Test of Time:
"I still believe what the world has taught me
to believe--that life will not take my breath away...
...love will still throw me over her shoulder and carry me up
every story I've ever told myself so I can see what's true,
and what's true is I can't always tell the difference
between my gifts and my tragedies...
...now my words
are so good at coming to my rescue,
fire trucks pull over to let my voice through...
...just like everyone else I have no clue
what tomorrow will sing, or scream, what I will feel
or what I won't...
...but there is a test we can all take to find out the future.
It's called the test of time. And what you do is live
until you die. And you refuse to let the hands of your clock
curl into fists to fight the lessons off. Even if the lessons
are brutally hard."
(p. 75-77)
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Some really strong poems at the beginning of this collection especially. A number of poems still fell flat for me. A nice book to have on hand for a relatively easy read when I needed it though!
This poet has quickly become my favorite in the world. This collection is magnificent. Thank you for putting this out into the world, Andrea.