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4.19 AVERAGE
4.19 AVERAGE
fast-paced
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
I am not sure how to put into words what this made me feel. Connected, apart, seen, informed, the entire dictionary at my disposal and I can't string words together to properly praise this collection of poetry.
Just read it.
Just read it.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
reflective
slow-paced
This collection is for the heady, the heartbroken, the mythologists. There were moments in this collection I held my breath, stunned at connections I didn’t see coming. There were many moments I found myself tangled in imagery, trying to find my way. There are places in this collection for everyone to find something though, and for Allen’s revelations about the enduring-ness of life to startle you into the present.
I think my favorite part of the collection is the first section, “Pathology,” in which Allen dives in human ontology. How do our bodies exist in space—on stolen land, in restrictive presents—how do they bend, break, and decompose. In “Central Nervous System,” Allen writes, “what we have lived through settles/ in the small axons, what we endure/ whipped along the vertebrae/ all the way to curled toes.”
In another section, “Manifest,” Allen writes into and around different indigenous stereotypes from mainstream media, rejecting categorization and instead offering alternate history and myth.
The collection closes with “Love Songs,” a series of love poems that stretch out the ways we typically think of love.
I think my favorite part of the collection is the first section, “Pathology,” in which Allen dives in human ontology. How do our bodies exist in space—on stolen land, in restrictive presents—how do they bend, break, and decompose. In “Central Nervous System,” Allen writes, “what we have lived through settles/ in the small axons, what we endure/ whipped along the vertebrae/ all the way to curled toes.”
In another section, “Manifest,” Allen writes into and around different indigenous stereotypes from mainstream media, rejecting categorization and instead offering alternate history and myth.
The collection closes with “Love Songs,” a series of love poems that stretch out the ways we typically think of love.
This collection is so vivid. So full of life and pain and love and hate that it begins to become almost loathing of all that it feels in the best way. Before returning to the love that lead it astray in the first place with new found resilience.
Allen’s use of natural imagery mixed in with snippets of indigenous culture and history and the occasional ode to specific pop culture place in regard to how it portrays our people brings this collection somewhere really special.
Some standouts for me included
When I Say I Love You This Is What I Mean
Palm Reader Fifth Avenue
In Which I Become Tiger Lily
Love Song to the Man Anouncing Pow Wows and Rodeos
Central Nervous System
Morphology
How the Skin Bruises If You Lie Their Long Enough
Allen’s use of natural imagery mixed in with snippets of indigenous culture and history and the occasional ode to specific pop culture place in regard to how it portrays our people brings this collection somewhere really special.
Some standouts for me included
When I Say I Love You This Is What I Mean
Palm Reader Fifth Avenue
In Which I Become Tiger Lily
Love Song to the Man Anouncing Pow Wows and Rodeos
Central Nervous System
Morphology
How the Skin Bruises If You Lie Their Long Enough
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
There’s a softness that gives an intimate feeling to the overall strong writing. Each piece is unique while fitting together so well with the others. I really enjoyed this collection.
I’m still processing these poems, but oh did I love this collection!