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codi_codi's review
5.0
Dear-
I take the first snowfall for ash. Mistake,
I mean, the first flake that comes wisping
down for the remnant of some thing burned,
perhaps, for warmth or in error. When we were
young, we stood with our backs not to the past
or future but toward the hot desperation
of being alive and for right now.
At the canyon's edge, the wind, thick as a hand,
readied to push you into gorge and river
rock. Come back, I said. And the wind took
my voice too. Love, there is no fire here—
only water, finally, drifting
to coat the grass, to keep it green, to heap
the limbs and needles in wet, heavy white. (p. 76)
I take the first snowfall for ash. Mistake,
I mean, the first flake that comes wisping
down for the remnant of some thing burned,
perhaps, for warmth or in error. When we were
young, we stood with our backs not to the past
or future but toward the hot desperation
of being alive and for right now.
At the canyon's edge, the wind, thick as a hand,
readied to push you into gorge and river
rock. Come back, I said. And the wind took
my voice too. Love, there is no fire here—
only water, finally, drifting
to coat the grass, to keep it green, to heap
the limbs and needles in wet, heavy white. (p. 76)
richardleis's review
5.0
Donika Kelly is phenomenal at both clarity and figurative language, with images, similes, and metaphors that cut to the emotion, and the bone: "I was born into a house of air," "a winged boar," "The tide pool crumples like a woman / into the smallest version of herself, bleeding onto whatever touches her," etc. The subject matter of her poems can be tough going, but that clarity and purpose serves her well. I'm learning from reading and rereading her poetry how to navigate and write about trauma and recovery, but also love, heartbreak, hope, and nature. Repeating images of nature, even nature suffering at the hands of humanity, offer dignity and grace, connection and sensuality. A fantastic second collection from an incredible poet.
balletbookworm's review
4.0
4.5 out of 5, because I felt like the "narrative" was too fragmented as a collection for my taste, but each one of these poems is outstanding on its own. They are very confessional - or maybe...almost like a purgative, purging the trauma from the speaker and exposing it to the light and air so it can no longer fester in the dark. CW for childhood sexual abuse.
mnboyer's review
5.0
PopSugar 2022 reading challenge #10
Anisfield-Wolf Book Award winner for a reason!
Phew, there is some heavy, heavy content in here and some dark, dark moments. But the poetry is gorgeous. The writing is breathtaking, actually.
Anisfield-Wolf Book Award winner for a reason!
Phew, there is some heavy, heavy content in here and some dark, dark moments. But the poetry is gorgeous. The writing is breathtaking, actually.