"Come Sit By My Fire" by Fortune Maine is a poetic journey that transcends the simple act of reading; it is an invitation to a sacred space of reflection, healing, and profound self-discovery. Through Maine's eloquent verses, the reader is guided through the valleys of personal darkness and into the light of self-acceptance and renewal. This collection is not merely a book of poetry but a conduit for transformation, offering solace to the weary and enlightenment to seekers of inner truth.
Read MoreExperience the raw emotion and poignant honesty of Anne Sexton's poetry in her collection, Mercies. Through her words, Sexton delves into the complexities of the human experience, exploring themes of love, loss, and the search for meaning and connection. From the pain of grief to the complexities of relationships and self-discovery, these poems are a testament to the enduring power of poetry to explore and express the deepest aspects of the human experience. Whether you are a fan of Sexton's work or new to her writing, Mercies is a collection that is sure to leave a lasting impression.
Read More"Kaleidoscope Minds: An Anthology of Poetry by Neurodivergent Women," edited by Catherine Bell & Stephanie Farrell Moore, is a profound and beautifully curated collection that offers a unique and deeply personal insight into the lived experiences of neurodivergent women. The foreword, penned by Rebecca Schiller, sets the stage for what unfolds in the following pages, inviting readers to embrace the tension, the paradox, and the profound beauty of these voices.
Read MoreCandice Kelsey's 'The Poet Dreams of Driving a Ding-a-Ling Ice Cream Truck & Other Means of Escape' Review: A Poetic Journey of Emotion and Escapism. Explore the profound and beautiful world of Candice Kelsey's third full-length poetry collection. Delve into themes of grief, resilience, and everyday life, as Kelsey skillfully weaves words to create a captivating and introspective journey. This review celebrates the depth and universal appeal of Kelsey's work, offering readers a poignant exploration of the human experience. Discover why 'The Poet Dreams' is a must-read for poetry enthusiasts.
Read MoreExperience the powerful and poignant writing of Andrea Gibson in their collection, The Madness Vase. Through their words, Gibson tackles themes of identity, trauma, and the search for healing and connection. From the difficulties of healing from trauma to the complexities of love and relationships, these poems are a testament to the enduring power of poetry to explore and express the deepest aspects of the human experience.
Read MoreDiscover the powerful and thought-provoking poetry of Monika Radojevic in her debut collection, Teeth in the Back of My Neck. Born and raised in London, Radojevic is a half-Brazilian, half-Montenegrin writer with a master's degree in Development Studies from the University of London. In her poems, she explores themes of identity, ancestry, and history, and tackles issues of women's rights and gender equality. This emotionally charged and beautifully crafted collection is a must-read for fans of contemporary poetry and anyone interested in exploring the complexities of identity and heritage.
Read MoreLooking for powerful and thought-provoking contemporary poetry? Look no further than "Lilies on the Deathbed of Étaín and Other Poems" by Oisín Breen. This collection of experimental and long-form poetry explores themes of love, life, death, migration, and nature. With vivid imagery and sensory language, Breen's work draws the reader into each piece and leaves a lasting impression. Whether you're a fan of experimental poetry or simply looking for something new and thought-provoking to read, "Lilies on the Deathbed of Étaín and Other Poems" is a must-read.
Read MoreExperience the power of poetry with Ocean Vuong's Night Sky with Exit Wounds. This collection explores themes of identity, loss, and the human experience through evocative and immersive language. Vuong tackles difficult subjects with sensitivity and honesty, finding moments of beauty and hope even in the darkest of circumstances. With its blend of personal and political themes, innovative use of form and structure, and vivid and immersive language, Night Sky with Exit Wounds is a must-read for anyone looking for a deeply moving and thought-provoking collection of poetry.
Read MoreIf you are looking for a collection of poems that allows your heart to indulge in the glistening simplicities around you, The Colour Of Hope does so through an original and gorgeous method. Collated as poems that are specifically written for friends of hers, Jen Feroze cleverly includes personalised imagery to spark joy for both the recipient and the reader. Written during the pandemic, it guaranteed to ignite lost hope, whilst providing scintillating reminders of the beautiful world around us. Despite us moving on from lockdowns and isolations, Feroze has designed the collection in such a way that it can be adored in any era.
Read MoreSallyanne Rock’s debut pamphlet published on April 7th reminds me of what walking across hot coal on a summer day would feel like. It’s unapologetically raw, a strong punch in the gut, a visual diary of domestic abuse, going through trauma and navigating the crisis of identity. It reminds me of what Emily Dickinson claims about poetry—after reading Rock’s work, you feel like your head has been chopped off because of being thrown in emotional turmoil and unnerving questions that peel your skin and bones off bit by bit.
Read MoreI am beyond excited to write today about a very favourite poet of mine (and this I don’t easily say,) a good friend and a kindred spirit, whose outspokenness and support has come to mean a lot to me as a young writer and poet. I met Faye through my prompt poetry work for Small Leaf Press, and I came to know her more through our honest conversations about the struggles of writing and sticking to a routine to get your work out there. Today, I’ll be critiquing her first chapbook, published by Sunday Mornings at the River—Pneuma—which, truth be told, is an exemplar of contemporary poetry, a gem of originality and poetic sensitivity that deeply resonated with me.
Read MoreOn a rainy January morning, I came across Jemma’s writing prompts on Instagram, and we instantly connected by a shared love for poetry that is honest, emotional and tackles heavily controversial social issues like depression, grief, and motherhood in crisis. Because of her, I have written one of my most favourite poems which Rebecca has chosen for the 2022 Autumn anthology too (you can ask me later, and I’ll tell you about it, but that’s not the point of this introduction, the point is to show you just how much respect and appreciation I have for Jemma’s bright mind and spirit.)
Read MoreWe talk a lot ABOUT love. There are songs, poems, t-shirts, postcards, films, art, books, even cakes can sometimes end up with something about love scrawled across the top. Yes, we talk about it. We think we know all there is to know about love. It has a shape and a colour; red hearts are perhaps one of the first things we all learn to recognize when we’re young. The feeling seems universally the same, and most of those poems, songs and films seem to tell us what we already know. They show us a picture drawn long ago and set in the stone of a popular culture that likes to sell us things.
Read MorePoetry is a very personal thing. It feels like belonging, a favourite jumper we go back to every fall, no matter the number of holes that are in it. It is a sink or a toilet bowl we empty our worst selves into. While reading Sammi Yamashiro’s book “The Peach Pit Mask”, I felt a bit like an intruder, for stumbling upon some of the rawest and most honest poetry I have ever read. I felt like I needed to stop turning the pages, but I couldn’t.
Read MoreSean Felix writes with the fervour of every poet who has ever fallen in love with the seductive muse of Paris. His work is fuelled by a gritty determination to keep crawling forward – through insomniac nights and midnight possessions. “From the echoing drums on cold stone / a necromancer in the shape of a black man / too ugly to share my face so I draw on it.” He possesses an ability to set a vivid scene and tell a story so dramatic, you’ll awake as if from a lucid dream.
Read MoreReading poetry is cathartic to me. Reading poetry is supposed to be raw, confessional, a love, or hate letter from the poet to the reader. It’s supposed to be messy and thought-provoking. You make a statement; you have an impact on people through your words. You’re brave enough to touch on topics nobody else will do with such ferocity, sensibility, and finesse.
Cassie Senn’s first poetry chapbook, published in 2020, takes all the above into account and delivers poetry that cuts deep. “The Changing Temperatures of Heartache” is a collection of narrative short poems; each one takes over a single page and just because of that formatting, you get the idea that you peek into the narrator’s diary. It’s an excellent example of confessional poetry that ignites discussion around love that breaks you and cures you.
Read MoreThe Care Home is Rebecca Rijsdijk’s fourth collection of poetry. This book deals with what it is like to work as a carer with our without a global pandemic. It portrays the people the author works with, and it portrays the inner life of the carer.
Read MoreIn a world choking on social media cleanliness, Golden is a glance at the sordid underbelly which unites humanity - whether humanity likes it or not. It is a knot of painfully-raw honesty and bitter deceit, drenched in a vicious philosophy and hard to swallow half-truths. It oozes anti-poetry at a time when the art form is reduced to self-help and a ceaseless quest for innocence and purity.
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