books of poetry (1)
i only started reading poetry again (after having to read german classics in school) when i was sick and a friend gifted me home body by rupi kaur. did these book make me cry? many times 🐸
home body (2020) by rupi kaur with illustrations by the author.
this is the book my friend hong gifted me during a very (physically) painful period of my life. it brought reading poetry back to me which felt wonderful in itself. i remember how it made me appreciate hearing other peoples’ experiences through writing as i’ve been questioning the point of it all in my own practice. i liked the different chapters of the book that divide it into mind, heart, rest and awake.
how to cure a ghost (2019) by fariha róisín with illustrations by monica ramos.
this books is beautiful inside out while the illustrations and poems enhance each other so naturally. i also love the feel of the book which is a bit on the grainy side and one can completely flatten it while reading which i appreciate.
time is a mother (2022) by ocean vuong.
this book was another gift and i had the hardest time getting into it compared to the others which felt less technical to me. its layout is simple with a clear focus on bringing forward the printed words through different layouts. the book is also divided into chapters for which no guidance in deciphering is given. my two favourite poems are the first two in the book.
your wound / my garden (2021) by alok vaid-menon.
so far i only have a pdf version of this book (another gift) and it is on my ever-long hardcopy wishlists. the cover picture is stunning and so are the poems, centred around being alive in a body. i remember reading it during an evening of being home alone and suddenly something in me felt a bit more free.