I have complicated feelings about Lone Yellow Flower. This poetry collection follows a breakup and the subsequent emotions experienced. With a poem reI have complicated feelings about Lone Yellow Flower. This poetry collection follows a breakup and the subsequent emotions experienced. With a poem referencing Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur, it is easy to draw some sort of comparison between the two. However, this collection is more gritty and dark, but I would recommend for enjoyers of the Kaur collection looking for a different flavor. Unfortunately, the style of this collection is not to my taste. As a former curator of novice poetry submissions and a frequent writer of novice poems inspired by terse relationships, I feel justified in saying the poetry feels a bit under-cooked and misshapen. I think that this could have had more integrity as a chapbook and more workshopping on the specific poems. For instance, one of my favorite poems, likely the title poem being referenced in the book cover, "Yellow irises" impressed me in its imagery and word usage, where many poems employed mixed metaphors, cliches, and over-complicated word choice. And hey! I get it! I struggle with keeping my poems on track and mixing metaphors. I always want to use my new vocabulary word in a poem even when it doesn't add anything to the poem except for making me feel erudite. However... I have not published a 70+ page poetry collection. Yet, I sincerely hope that this book reaches its audience... I just need to be more comfortable putting down poetry arcs after the first few poems don't pop for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Querencia Press for access to this arc in exchange for an honest review. <3...more
I was hopeful for this collection as a fan of Dimitrov's online presence and use of imagery, but Ecstasy was just okay. Some poems felt bloated, some I was hopeful for this collection as a fan of Dimitrov's online presence and use of imagery, but Ecstasy was just okay. Some poems felt bloated, some poems felt a bit like a scattering of images or thoughts, and most poems felt a little too up front for me. I like reading between the lines and deciphering poems, but this felt a bit more like a beat travelogue... just not for me. Would recommend in lieu of Grindr scrolling though, I suppose.
You, rushing past on your streets To some dubious magic you've tasted, If only you knew how much heat, How much lifeblood I've already waste
adoreeeeeeeee
You, rushing past on your streets To some dubious magic you've tasted, If only you knew how much heat, How much lifeblood I've already wasted,
How much heroic passion I threw At a random shadow or rustling... How each time my heart flamed anew And spent its powder for nothing.
O trains flying into the night, Making off with the sleep of the station... But I know nevertheless that you might Never answer—if you heard it—the question:
Why are my words so strong and so sharp To my cigaret's perpetual smolder. How much gloom and imperiling dark In the light-haired head on my shoulders.
(the first poem in the collection)
My veins slashed open: unrestrained, Unrestorable, my life gushes forth. Hold steady your plates and your bowls! Each bowl soon will be shallow, The plates—too flat to contain it. Up the brim and over Staining earth dark, nourishing reeds. Irreversible, unavoidable, Unrestorable, the poem streams.
Serviceable Eve Babitz "Reader" or a Biography "Lite"? This book is tasty on the tongue like candy and a yummy vape, but just because it feels good doServiceable Eve Babitz "Reader" or a Biography "Lite"? This book is tasty on the tongue like candy and a yummy vape, but just because it feels good doesn't mean it is good. I am left quite sour about Lili Anolik's passionate animosity towards Joan Didion and Play it as it Lays. However, I can't deny the amount of interviews and perspectives gained from reading this. Anolik did a good job chasing the story and gathering salacious quotes about Eve. I'm dreading having to read Didion and Babitz now, but I'll let this one off the hook for being serviceable at best. I'd recommend Babitz fans give this a go though! :')
Intimate story about mental illness & the story of our lives. Told through the dynamics between childhood friends, Fanny & “the Narrator�. Kinda yawn,Intimate story about mental illness & the story of our lives. Told through the dynamics between childhood friends, Fanny & “the Narrator�. Kinda yawn, but I was moved at some points. ...more
I picked this up off the foreword from Patti Smith and recognition of Sam Shepard whom I forgot wrote Fool For Love & also had an extramarital affair I picked this up off the foreword from Patti Smith and recognition of Sam Shepard whom I forgot wrote Fool For Love & also had an extramarital affair turned long friendship with Patti. And I was pleasantly surprised. Has a Play it as it Lays x Beat feel with lots of abstraction in the plot. I thought this made some interesting remarks on life & age gap relationships and all of that which follows them. The characters stick out like tiny jewels in the Mojave sand. What a delightful palate cleanser. ...more
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