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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
It had a few really good poems that I loved. I just kind of feel like I’ve read some of these before.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
3/5 stars
For a poetry book I saw an expert from on tiktok, this was rather endearing and very sweet.
Toward the beginning there’s this beautiful passage that so perfectly captures what it’s like to have anxiety. (That’s the bit I saw on tiktok) Heavily recommended just to read for that part.
But there’s also other lovely parts:
“maybe it’s easier for me to swallow lies than to swallow truth.
maybe that’s why i never stop
craving the taste of you.”
“one morning
you will open your eyes
and know it will be a good day
without having prayed for it
the night before.”
Clearly potential in the writing, however my only criticism is that it reeks too much of Rupi Kaur, with the structure of the poems and the lack of capitalisation (all it’s missing is the illustrations). Unfortunately, it rips you out of the immersion because oftentimes it feels like reading tumblr poetry or instagram captions because of the structure.
3/5 stars
For a poetry book I saw an expert from on tiktok, this was rather endearing and very sweet.
Toward the beginning there’s this beautiful passage that so perfectly captures what it’s like to have anxiety. (That’s the bit I saw on tiktok) Heavily recommended just to read for that part.
But there’s also other lovely parts:
“maybe it’s easier for me to swallow lies than to swallow truth.
maybe that’s why i never stop
craving the taste of you.”
“one morning
you will open your eyes
and know it will be a good day
without having prayed for it
the night before.”
Clearly potential in the writing, however my only criticism is that it reeks too much of Rupi Kaur, with the structure of the poems and the lack of capitalisation (all it’s missing is the illustrations). Unfortunately, it rips you out of the immersion because oftentimes it feels like reading tumblr poetry or instagram captions because of the structure.
3/5 stars
Found this thanks to TikTok and so glad I did.
This was the poem I saw on TikTok
“to the person i am today:
i promise i will start loving you again.
i just need to remember
how it feels to be proud of you,
to look in the mirror and be in awe of you.
i just need to remember what it was like
before i told you
you weren't good enough.
i buried you alive, piling
doubt and loathing
onto your body like soil,
so only i can bring you back to life.
and i will.
i promise.”
This was the poem I saw on TikTok
“to the person i am today:
i promise i will start loving you again.
i just need to remember
how it feels to be proud of you,
to look in the mirror and be in awe of you.
i just need to remember what it was like
before i told you
you weren't good enough.
i buried you alive, piling
doubt and loathing
onto your body like soil,
so only i can bring you back to life.
and i will.
i promise.”
I read Shelby’s entire book in one sitting. She is a beautiful poet. A handful of poems brought me to tears instantly. There were many relationship poems that I didn’t have a personal connection to, however, her writing is beautiful nonetheless.
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Changing With The Tides is a validating read for anyone that’s experienced self-doubt and uncertainty — if you’re looking for a quick read to recenter yourself, or a gift for a friend that doesn’t “like” poetry, these poems are for you!
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Favorite Quotes:
“to my mind:
we are at war, you and me.
an everlasting exchange of insults and new wounds and apologies
that always come just a little too late.
by the time you say
i’m sorry
i have already absorbed the blow.
a new battle scar has risen on my skin.
my body cannot defend itself from you anymore.
and i’m scared a truce will never come.” Pg. 8
“like an anchor
around my ankles,
i can’t escape the voice in my head that says you’ll never be anything but nothing.” Pg. 9
“to insecurity:
if i could step out of my body
and see myself from another view, would i recognize me?
would i see everything that i think is so wrong?
(would i see everything that i think is so unworthy of love?)” Pg. 10
“i urge my mouth to open and push the words out.
i have so much to say, but i choke on
self-doubt.” Pg. 11
“to my enemy:
how bravely you stood across from me when you didn’t stand a chance.
we raised our swords defiantly
for our battle to commence.
i knew all of your weaknesses
and defeated you with glee
but when you removed your helmet my reflection stared back at me.” Pg. 46
“you were radiant
long before the first sunray landed upon your skin.
you are radiant because of the glow you emit,
and though you feel like only one person,
the world would be dimmer without you in it.“ Pg. 108
“to the person i am today:
i promise i will start loving you again.
i just need to remember
how it feels to be proud of you,
to look in the mirror and be in awe of you.
i just need to remember what it was like before i told you
you weren’t good enough.
i buried you alive, piling doubt and loathing
onto your body like soil,
so only i can bring you back to life.
(and i will. i promise.)” Pg. 117
“to my mind:
we are at war, you and me.
an everlasting exchange of insults and new wounds and apologies
that always come just a little too late.
by the time you say
i’m sorry
i have already absorbed the blow.
a new battle scar has risen on my skin.
my body cannot defend itself from you anymore.
and i’m scared a truce will never come.” Pg. 8
“like an anchor
around my ankles,
i can’t escape the voice in my head that says you’ll never be anything but nothing.” Pg. 9
“to insecurity:
if i could step out of my body
and see myself from another view, would i recognize me?
would i see everything that i think is so wrong?
(would i see everything that i think is so unworthy of love?)” Pg. 10
“i urge my mouth to open and push the words out.
i have so much to say, but i choke on
self-doubt.” Pg. 11
“to my enemy:
how bravely you stood across from me when you didn’t stand a chance.
we raised our swords defiantly
for our battle to commence.
i knew all of your weaknesses
and defeated you with glee
but when you removed your helmet my reflection stared back at me.” Pg. 46
“you were radiant
long before the first sunray landed upon your skin.
you are radiant because of the glow you emit,
and though you feel like only one person,
the world would be dimmer without you in it.“ Pg. 108
“to the person i am today:
i promise i will start loving you again.
i just need to remember
how it feels to be proud of you,
to look in the mirror and be in awe of you.
i just need to remember what it was like before i told you
you weren’t good enough.
i buried you alive, piling doubt and loathing
onto your body like soil,
so only i can bring you back to life.
(and i will. i promise.)” Pg. 117