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rquickly's review against another edition
4.0
This is literally such a perfect little collection. So much love and care are given to every poem, with a diverse range of perspectives. Pretty straightforward, even as narrative poems go, on the surface but whenever she hits you with those subversions they hit and hit deeply. Love the use of repetition in a lot of these poems, I love repetition and they are each used to unique effect in a way that doesn't seem to get tedious. Loved how unabashed each and every poem is. Frank and poignant.
angelreadsthings's review against another edition
3.0
3 3/4 Stars. This is a poetry collection that I could read a hundred times and still want to read again. Clarke's dedication to writing about the experiences of Black women honestly and unabashedly came through in every poem and made this Black woman feel more at home in this poetry book than in many others I've read.
madi's review
5.0
With endorsements on the back from Adrienne Rich, June Jordan, and Audre Lorde, I knew I had to pick this up. This collection is heart wrenching. Clarke uses poetry as a device for storytelling unlike other poets I’ve read. Her stories are specific yet universal, and though I don’t know the characters personally, I feel like I do now. There were a few times my heart stopped after reading a poem, which is why I am giving this collection 5 stars. They weren’t all standouts, but the ones that were REALLY were. This collection will make you feel all kinds of things. It is also brief: there are less than 40 pages of poems, but it contains hundreds of stories. Truly powerful.
My favorite poems: hair, April 4 1968: Washington, D.C., mavis writes in her journal, and a mother’s story.
My favorite poems: hair, April 4 1968: Washington, D.C., mavis writes in her journal, and a mother’s story.
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