A review by richardleis
The Renunciations: Poems by Donika Kelly

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.