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Six Books to Read if You Love Angie Thomas

By
Mallory Viscardi
Angie Thomas Recommends Six Books
Reading Time: 4 minutes

Angie Thomas’s work captures and amplifies the voice of a strong, empowered generation.

Angie Thomas is, it’s safe to say, far past being on the come up herself. Thomas established herself with herself with The Hate U Give, which went on to win Goodreads Choice Best of the Best, the William C. Morris Award alongside making the National Book Award Long List and being a #1 New York Times Best Seller.

Now she’s back with her sophomore novel, On the Come Up, and we can promise you, it’s going to blow your socks off. Thomas has written a lyrical and immersive novel, a story about a driven young woman, focused on her goal of becoming a rapper. Dubious? Don’t be. The first time Thomas spins her rhymes into verse on the page, the poetry of the magic of off-the-cuff creation weaves itself into the language. Thomas takes you deep into her protagonist Bri’s mind as she architects her songs on the fly. Being privy to the creative process of an artist like that feels tense and intimate, like we’re watching something powerful, cutting, vulnerable be formed from nothing, the wisp of an idea, the most subtle wordplay.

The world of hip hop and the world of poetry aren’t as far apart as one might think. When asked about hip hop as a medium for expression, Thomas linked its heritage directly back to poetry, saying, “Rap is the grandchild of poetry, gospel, and rhythm and blues.” We couldn’t agree more. And one of the keys to challenging the boundaries of your art is to expose yourself to a new and different perspective.

In an interview for Advance, Thomas recommended these titles for readers hungry for more diversity in both characters and in the life experiences portrayed.

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

Angie Thomas Recommends: Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

Description: An ode to Put the Damn Guns Down, this is National Book Award finalist and New York Times bestseller Jason Reynolds’s fiercely stunning novel that takes place in sixty potent seconds—the time it takes a kid to decide whether or not he’s going to murder the guy who killed his brother.

And so it goes, the whole long way down, as the elevator stops on each floor, and at each stop someone connected to his brother gets on to give Will a piece to a bigger story than the one he thinks he knows. A story that might never know an END…if WILL gets off that elevator.

Told in short, fierce staccato narrative verse, Long Way Down is a fast and furious, dazzlingly brilliant look at teenage gun violence, as could only be told by Jason Reynolds.

Little & Lion by Brandy Colbert

Angie Thomas Recommends: Little & Lion by Brandy Colbert

Description: When Suzette comes home to Los Angeles from her boarding school in New England, she’s isn’t sure if she’ll ever want to go back. L.A. is where her friends and family are (as well as her crush, Emil). And her stepbrother, Lionel, who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, needs her emotional support.

But as she settles into her old life, Suzette finds herself falling for someone new…the same girl her brother is in love with. When Lionel’s disorder spirals out of control, Suzette is forced to confront her past mistakes and find a way to help her brother before he hurts himself–or worse.

Odd One Out by Nic Stone

Angie Thomas Recommends: Odd One Out by Nic Stone

Description: Courtney Cooper and Jupiter Sanchez (Coop & Jupe!) have been next-door neighbors and best friends since they were seven-years-old. She’s his partner-in-crime and other half. But lately, Cooper can’t ignore he might want something more than friendship from Jupiter. 

When Rae Chin moves to town she can’t believe how lucky she is to find Coop and Jupe. Being the new kid is usually synonymous with pariah, but around these two, she finally feels like she belongs. She’s so grateful she wants to kiss him…and her.

Jupiter has always liked girls. But when Rae starts dating Cooper, Jupe realizes that the only girl she ever really imagined by his side was her.

One story. Three sides. No easy answers.

Monday’s Not Coming by Tiffany Jackson

Angie Thomas Recommends: Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany Jackson

Description: Monday Charles is missing, and only Claudia seems to notice. Claudia and Monday have always been inseparable—more sisters than friends. So when Monday doesn’t turn up for the first day of school, Claudia’s worried.

When she doesn’t show for the second day, or second week, Claudia knows that something is wrong. Monday wouldn’t just leave her to endure tests and bullies alone. Not after last year’s rumors and not with her grades on the line. Now Claudia needs her best—and only—friend more than ever. But Monday’s mother refuses to give Claudia a straight answer, and Monday’s sister April is even less help.

As Claudia digs deeper into her friend’s disappearance, she discovers that no one seems to remember the last time they saw Monday. How can a teenage girl just vanish without anyone noticing that she’s gone?

The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

Angie Thomas Recommends: The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

Description:  Xiomara Batista feels unheard and unable to hide in her Harlem neighborhood. Ever since her body grew into curves, she has learned to let her fists and her fierceness do the talking.

But Xiomara has plenty she wants to say, and she pours all her frustration and passion onto the pages of a leather notebook, reciting the words to herself like prayers—especially after she catches feelings for a boy in her bio class named Aman, who her family can never know about.

With Mami’s determination to force her daughter to obey the laws of the church, Xiomara understands that her thoughts are best kept to herself. So when she is invited to join her school’s slam poetry club, she doesn’t know how she could ever attend without her mami finding out. But she still can’t stop thinking about performing her poems.

Because in the face of a world that may not want to hear her, Xiomara refuses to be silent.

Love, Hate, & Other Filters by Samira Ahmed

Angie Thomas Recommends: Love, Hate, & Other Filters by Samira Ahmed

Description: Seventeen-year-old Maya Aziz is torn between worlds. There’s the proper one her parents expect for their good Indian daughter: attending a college close to their suburban Chicago home and being paired off with an older Muslim boy her mom deems “suitable.” And then there is the world of her dreams: going to film school and living in New York City—and pursuing a boy she’s known from afarsince grade school. 


But in the aftermath of a horrific crime perpetrated hundreds of miles away, her life is turned upside down. The community she’s known since birth becomes unrecognizable; neighbors and classmates are consumed with fear, bigotry, and hatred. Ultimately, Maya must find the strength within to determine where she truly belongs.


But in the aftermath of a horrific crime perpetrated hundreds of miles away, her life is turned upside down. The community she’s known since birth becomes unrecognizable; neighbors and classmates are consumed with fear, bigotry, and hatred. Ultimately, Maya must find the strength within to determine where she truly belongs.

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Representation in Publishing, The Dinner Party Question, Imaginary Friends, and more!

By
Mallory Viscardi
poetry news around the web - little infinite discoveries
poetry news around the web - little infinite discoveries
Reading Time: 2 minutes

little infinite Discoveries is our weekly round-up of all things bookish, pop culture, inspirational, or imaginative.

The editorial team curating content for little infinite spends a lot of time searching for the pulse of our audience’s interests day to day… which means we spend a lot of time scouring the internet. Here are some of the best, funniest, brightest articles we came across in our quest to make your digital life a happier, lovelier place. May our discoveries serve to bring you joy, challenge you to think differently, open your eyes to other perspectives on the world, or just give you a much-needed chuckle.

How 10 Women of Color Actually Feel About Working in Book Publishing via Bustle

One of the things we love most about poetry– especially this empowered #instapoet generation– is that the medium of the internet allows for all voices from all poets to be discoverable. It’s not always the case, evidenced in Bustle’s exposé-style feature on women of color and how they feel they’re represented in the publishing industry workplace. It’s a gripping, eye-opening read, and we highly recommend that everyone read it.

6 Authors Answer: If You Could Invite Anyone to Dinner, Who Would You Choose? via Bustle

This is one of our favorite games to play and having six of our favorite contemporary authors share their answers is bliss. Bustle breaks down each other, her most recent modern work, and then reveals her imaginary dinner party guests, plus her rationale for her roster. We don’t want to give too much away, but suffice it to say that we’re shuffling our invite lists around in light of their inspired choices.

Chinese Photographer Photoshops Herself Into Historic Photos via My Modern Met

This is a story for anyone who’s wanted to hang with the celebrities and A-List names of yore. Chinese Photographer Celine Liu takes the daydreams we’ve all had and moves them a step closer to reality, by moving herself into the frame. Perfectly matched to the period, style, and development process, Liu seamlessly works herself into these iconic images, further begging the question: What would you say if you could meet your hero?

How Do You Organize Your Books? via AV Club

We’re big into books and even bigger into organizing our home spaces. Given the chance, we can’t help but sneak a peek at how others organize their home libraries. We were thrilled to discover the AV Club’s question thread asking their community how they organize their own books. You yourself can chime in on their thread, but we want to know, too: How do you organize your books? Tell us in the comments below.

Kendall Jenner’s Hilarious “Fraternal Twin” Keeps Photoshopping Himself into Her Photos via My Modern Met

News: Kirby Jenner, Kendall Jenner's satirical "fraternal twin"

We love the mania that surrounds the Jenner and the Kardashian Clans, but not nearly as much as we love the satire they provoke. We know that the story is old news– almost three years old– but the comedy value of “Kirby Jenner’s” work and world is, dare we say it, timeless. This one won’t challenge you intellectually, but laughter is a tonic for the soul and with the last weeks of winter taking their sweet time moving on out, we can’t help but crave a good chuckle. Image source

How To Read A Poem

By
Lisa Marie Basile
How to Read a Poem - little infinite
Reading Time: 4 minutes

Read poetry… and fall in love with the process.

A lot of people have internalized that idea that poetry isn’t for everyone, that it must be arduous, and that it must have some definitive answer or meaning. “But what does it mean,” people always ask me.

And I always say, “Well, what do you feel?”

Meaning isn’t the end-goal with poetry. It’s the process that matters, and I think it’s easy to lose sight of this. We also tend to equate poetry with academia, studying, the dusty shelves of a time gone by. But poetry, which you know, of course, is far, far from dead. And it’s far from stuffy. Modern poets are everywhere, carving a space for this ‘high art’ in the everyday.

Warsan Shire wrote the poetry featured in Beyoncé’s Lemonade, Tracy K. Smith’s poetry collection Life on Mars won the prestigious Pulitzer Prize, and Noor Unnahar’s Find Your Voice: A Guided Poetry Journal for Your Heart and Your Art is sitting on shelves in your local Urban Outfitters.

“Poetry is the stuff of liminality, of mystery, and of truth. It’s part craft, part magic. There’s something divine about it — that it’s made from a place in the soul that is generated by complex feelings, secrets, confessions, and shadows.”

Of course, the poets who paved the way for modern poetry’s legacy of bravery, resilience, and creativity are still our patron saints. We bow down to Sylvia Plath, Emily Dickinson, Pablo Neruda, Chinua Achebe, Liu Xiaobo, John Keats, Maya Angelou, Mary Oliver, Lucille Clifton — and so many more.

Here’s my breakdown for you on how to read — and delight in — a poem:

Know that not everything needs to mean something.

Poetry is the stuff of liminality, of mystery, and of truth. It’s part-craft, part-magic. There’s something divine about it — that it’s made from a place in the soul that is generated by complex feelings, secrets, confessions, and shadows. There’s something freeing about reading a poem and falling in love with its language, even if you can’t quite grip its meaning.

Poetry often requires you to step outside your comfort zone — and that’s a good thing. That’s the privilege of being alive! Something doesn’t have to be easy to be enjoyable. In fact, throwing yourself into the abyss (and making the poem mean something to you — even if it isn’t what the poet’s meaning was intended to be — is the goal).

I know, god forbid those stuffy professors know that we interpret poems in our own ways! That’s the point. It’s art. It’s a little moment of beauty. It’s for you.

If you come up against something that seems unclear, fall into it. Are there clues? Words? Colors? Is there a tone or a mood? Is there a feeling you get that goes beyond what the words are saying to you? You’re doing it right.

Try everything once.

As the poet Johannes Göransson writes, “Not all poems prioritize everyday language. Some poems value arguments and narrative above the experience of language. Sometimes poems have mystical meanings.”

Depending on the kind of poetry you read you’re going to have a difference experience — and that’s good. That’s how you learn what works for you and what doesn’t. The only thing I ask is that you give different kinds of poetry a chance. There are hundreds of years of work out there; consume it. Read poets from different cultures. Go beyond Instagram. Wander the shelves in your library. Try out samples on your e-reader. (Some of them are even free!)

Print out and mark up your poetry

This may be a sacreligious thing for some people — but I like to write in the margins of my books. If you’re not a scribbler like me, print or handwrite a poem and notate it.

Which words stand out to you? Is there a theme that has been repeated? Are there colors — and if so, what could they mean? Is the use of “red” angry or sensual? Is the use of “blue” distant, dead, or sad? Are there word you don’t know? Look them up. Are there words that sound beautiful and evocative to you? Why is that? Why would the poem use them — and what are they doing for you?

Honor the poem’s intentions as much as you honor your own relationship to it.

You don’t owe a poem anything besides your attention. You don’t have to like it. You don’t have to dislike it. You simply have to experience it.

Maybe you do fall in love with it — and maybe that’s because it reminds you of something, gives you some strange truth, or opens up a new realm. If this is you, let go of the idea that reading poetry is something reserved for poets or academics, and simply experience the poem.

What it does for you is much more important than what it is doing in general. If it leaves you feeling unsettled, confused, sensual, or alive — lean into that. Why? Come back to it later. Invite it into your world and let it rattle around in there.

Read a poem three times a day, in between your activities.

Reading a poem three times a day is a good way to get started. I know that seems arbitrary, and maybe it is. But I also find that this builds ritual and brain muscle.

I’d suggest visiting the Poetry Foundation and perusing their poems by school of poet (like Victorian or confessional), poet’s region, the topic of poetry (like love or illness) or the form (forms are the style in which they’re written, like a haiku or a couplet).

Read while you’re brushing your teeth. Read while your lounging in the bath. Read while you’re on the subway. Red while you grab a morning coffee or afternoon snack.

Build poems into your daily ritual and you’ll open up new worlds, sounds, and memories. Be okay with the mystery. Appreciate the few moments it gives you to explore new worlds outside your own creative self.

Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash

Valentine’s Day Haiku Poetry Contest Winners

By
Ashleigh Angel
valentines day haiku contest
Reading Time: < 1 minute

Our Valentine’s Day poetry contest is over and we’re more than impressed. We have the most talented readers on the galaxy. *tears up*

Winners from the Valentine’s Day Haiku Contest revealed below. Swoon on. (We promise we won’t judge.)

1st Place – Rachel Williams (@sillyrach)

2nd Place – Lissa Batista (@lissamorgana)

3rd Place – Amanda Lester (@amandajeanne1202)

4th Place – Viktoria Mirigliano (@vrtmartwork)

5th Place – Elizabeth Cacaj (@lizzylizz)

Congratulations to all of the winners! Thank you to everyone who entered. We love contests here at little infinite and we’ll be having more in the future. Stay up-to-date with our contest announcements on Instagram or Facebook. Keep an eye out, poets!

Hannah Blum is Slaying Stigma and Honing Her Craft At The Same Dang Time

By
Ashleigh Angel
Hannah Blum Writer Instagram
Reading Time: 2 minutes

Hannah Blum’s writing shines a light on a topic that impact millions of us (so listen up).

Hannah Blum is everything writer, content creator and mental illness advocate. Blum launched her blog, Halfway 2 Hannah, in 2016 initially opening up about living with bipolar disorder. Now, she covers everything from advice and how pop culture impacts mental illness to tools, relatable experiences, and love.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BtmanpdH3DV/

Her writing addresses topics that typically hold stigma, transforming them into relatable discussions. Let this sink in: 1 in 5 people in the United States have experienced mental illness (National Alliance of Mental Illness, 2019). These topics deserve more awareness, education, destigmatization, and shared advice for people living with mental illness. Not to mention their allies, advocates, friends, and family.

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The struggles we face, the challenges we strive to overcome, the broken hearts and days filled with both darkness and light are the chapters that give our story meaning. It’s the content of our life. Do not every be ashamed. Your story is important and beautiful. Sending love to my #mentalhealthwarriors ♥️🖤 . . . #inspirationalquotes #mentalhealthcommunity #socialanxiety #itsoknottobeok #quotesdaily #selflovequotes #mentalillnessquotes #mentalhealthquote #depressionawareness #imperfectlyperfect #bipolartype2 #bipolardisordertype2 #quoteswithmeaning #quotesoflife #quotesofinsta #mentalhealthblog #bipolarlife #strongerthanstigma #mentalillnesswarrior #itsokaynottobeokay #bipolar2 #bipolar1

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Blum shared a video on Instagram this week that gave us goosebumps. So many people are pressured to hide or be ashamed of a huge part of us. No, mental illness doesn’t define you, but it is a part of your life. She uses her writing as a way to articulate feelings that millions experience and let others know they’re not alone. Trust, and watch below.

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Watch "The Secret Behind the Life of the Party”—Sometimes it’s the person who appears to be full of life that is completely void of it inside. For so long I hid behind my smile in hopes that no one would see that I was withering away internally. Now, I have learned that bipolar disorder does not define me but it’s a significant and beautiful part of who I am. If you think someone is hurting, do not look away just because they appear to have it all. Smiles can be deceiving.—You all inspire me with your truth—Thank you, @iamsarahsnow for taking my words, and a special part of my story, and bringing it to life in this video. You are my sister. I hope you all enjoy! Video by @iamsarahsnow . . . #bipolardisordertype2 #mentalhealthsupport #mentalwellness #mentalhealthadvoate #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealth #mentalhealthmatters #socialanxiety #bipolardepression #bipolardisorder #bipolar1 #bipolar2 #mentalhealth #stigma #endstigma #mentalhealthblogger #stigmafree #anxiety #endstigma #stigmafree #advocate #endthestigma #breakthestigma #instagramvideo #unashamed #nostigma #liveauthentic #bipolarstrong

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Remember that you are a beautiful fierce force to be reckoned with—your ability to feel is not something that makes you weak-it makes you a unique part of this universe that carries strength with every step. Walk with pride in what makes you different and never lose hope. I love my #mentalhealthwarriors 🖤🖤🖤 . . . #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #mentalillness #mental #emotions #mentalhealthquotes #mentalillnessfeelslike #mentalillnessquotes #writersofinsta #thoughts #feelings #innerthoughts #quotesdaily #instaquotes #writersofinstagram #mentalhealthjourney #bipolardepression #bipolardisordertype2 #bipolardisorder #depressionquotes #bipolar1 #bipolar2 #anxietyquotes #mentalhealthblog #mentalhealthadvocate #mentalhealthblogger #strengthquotes #inspirationalquotes

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https://www.instagram.com/p/Br9AM0AHFyD/

It’s not only about finding beauty in what makes you different but standing confidently in what makes you different. Her writing sheds much-needed light on a topic that is talked about as if it were sealed under a classified file. Why should mental health be a secret topic when majority of us, whether directly or indirectly, have been affected by it?

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I love the mind I was born with, the one I’m suppose to hate. I love the curves that carve out my figure, the ones I’m expected to change. I value my ‘flaws’ over other people’s opinions, and I hope I can inspire you to value yours as well. To embrace the fact that you are imperfectly perfect. I wouldn’t change one part about you. Sending light to my #mentalhealthwarriors ✨ . . . #bipolardisorder #bipolar #bipolardisordertype2 #depressionawareness #socialanxiety #mentalhealth #mentalhealthquotes #mentalillness #mentalillnessquotes #mentalhealthjourney #imperfectlyperfect #quotesdaily #thoughts #feelings #writerswrite #igpoets #wordsofwisdom #quotesofinstagram #wordporn #quoteoftheday #mentalhealthblogger

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Blum’s mission is to remove the stigma and empower those who live with mental illnesses. Blum is also coming out with a book this year, and we can’t wait to get our hands on it. Her words inspire us to find the magic in what makes us stand out in a crowded room. And, there’s a heap of magic in those attributes of us. Hannah’s Instagram bio includes the hashtag #SlayStigma, which is everything and more. Slay on readers, slay on.

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At one time I thought happiness and confidence would come with conforming. If I can mold myself into what society has taught me ‘happiness’ looks like, then it it’s impossible for me to struggle. If I follow through on my plans for life, life will be perfect and it’s impossible for me to be an outcast. If I hide my diagnosis of bipolar it will eventually disappear. If I marry the right guy then I will feel loved and worthy. If I maintain the perfect body then I will be confident. However, I have realized the that happiness is not attained, it’s awakened. It’s rooted in honesty. It’s found in our truth.—Excerpt from my BOOK 2019!! ✨✨ . . . #mentalhealth #mentalhealthquotes #bipolartype2 #bipolardisorder #bipolarlife #bipolardisordertype2 #mentalillness #bipolar1 #bipolar2 #mentalhealthblog #imperfectlyperfect #mentalillnessquotes #mentalhealthblogger #thoughts #writersofinstagram #emotions #happiness #fatalframes #bipolardepression #depressionawareness #socialanxiety #mentalhealthadvocate #mentalhealthcommunity #itsoknottobeok #stigmafree #endstigma #ig_humanplus #liveauthentic

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To keep up with Hannah Blum follow her on Instagram (@hannahdblum) or visit her website: Halfway 2 Hannah.A

4 Books to Read if You Liked The Sun and Her Flowers

By
Mallory Viscardi
Rupi Kaur Sun and Her Flowers
Reading Time: 2 minutes

Rupi Kaur’s second poetry collection left us ravenous for more earnest feminist prose. These are the books we discovered– and celebrate with equal passion.

We love the founding mother of the #instapoet movement, Queen Rupi Kaur herself. Nothing is off limits in her poetry, with her verse running the gamut on addressing women’s issues, from assault and trauma to body positivity and advocating for agency and autonomy over our bodies. Kaur is no stranger to controversy, and reading her poetry has mobilized an impassioned generation of women to speak up– and publish likeminded poetry of their own. These are the books we reach for when we need a fix like the one we got from The Sun and Her Flowers. 

The Witch Doesn’t Burn in This One by Amanda Lovelace

The Witch Doesn't Burn in This One by Amanda Lovelace

IndieBound Description: 2016 Goodreads Choice Award-winning poet Amanda Lovelace returns in the witch doesn’t burn in this one — the bold second book in her “women are some kind of magic” series. 

The witch: supernaturally powerful, inscrutably independent, and now—indestructible. These moving, relatable poems encourage resilience and embolden women to take control of their own stories. Enemies try to judge, oppress, and marginalize her, but the witch doesn’t burn in this one.

She Felt Like Feeling Nothing by r.h. Sin

She Felt Like Feeling Nothing by r.h. sin

IndieBound Description: From the bestselling author of the Whiskey, Words, and a Shovel series comes this poetic reminder of women’s strength.

There are moments when the heart no longer wishes to feel because everything it’s felt up until then has brought it nothing but anguish. In She Felt Like Feeling Nothing, r.h. Sin pursues themes of self-discovery and retrospection. With this book, the poet intends to create a safe space where women can rest their weary hearts and focus on themselves.

The Chaos of Longing by k.y. Robinson

The Chaos of Longing by k.y. Robinson

IndieBound Description: The Chaos of Longing is a brutally honest exploration of desire—physical, emotional, and spiritual. This revised and expanded edition contains over 50 pages of all-new material.

Organized in four sections – Inception, Longing, Chaos, and Epiphany – K.Y. Robinson’s debut poetry collection explores what it is to want in spite of trauma, shame, injustice, and mental illness. It is one survivor’s powerful testimony, and a love letter “to those who lie awake burning.” 

Roses by Moonlight by Nicola Mar

Roses by Moonlight by Nicola Mar

IndieBound Description: Roses by Moonlight offers readers a glimpse into their own thoughts and inner voices by reconnecting them with the feelings shared by all: heartbreak, loneliness, love, loss, and finally self-worth and acceptance. Nicola’s poems have been shared on her Instagram account, @nicolamar, by celebrities and fans across the globe.

 

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How I Became A Poet

By
Lisa Marie Basile
Poetry Editor Lisa Marie Basile for little infinite
Reading Time: 4 minutes

Lisa Marie Basile shares her journey as a modern American poet.

My name is Lisa Marie Basile, and I’m an editor for little infinite. I’m also a poet, editor, and writer living in New York. I’ve published several chapbooks and books of poetry — Andalucia, Apocryphal, Warlock, Nympholepsy (which is brand new and I’m proud to say will be included Best American Experimental Writing 2020) and one book about magical living, trauma resilience, and self-care: Light Magic for Dark Times. Of course, because I’m a poet first, even that last book has sections devoted to writing, poetry, and journaling.  

Poetry for Life

I have been writing poetry for as long as I can remember. When I was little, my dying grandfather bought me a calligraphy set, which was a sort of beautiful parting gift; I fell in love with the way the words looked on the page, with the intentionality of writing the letters, with the power I felt when I created words with my words.

“I fell in love with the way the words looked on the page, with the intentionality of writing the letters, with the power I felt when I created words with my words. “

Poetry would become my only outlet as I grew into my teenage years, too. We dealt with heavy addiction issues and poverty in my family, and later I would end up in foster care. Through it all, I had poetry. It was my magic, my comfort, my outlet, my hope.

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For new followers who may not know, this is one of the faces of #FosterYouth. I was in foster care for many years, and it’s important to me that I share this aspect of myself via what small platform I have. Here, I’m reading a story about my time in foster care for @narratively. . The reason I’m here today is b/c a handful of adults took the time to encourage + support my writing. This gave me a way toward resilience, out of the dark. Did you know that 437,465 kids are in foster care—many due to the opioid crisis (like me). A little under half age out of the system, meaning they turn 18 within a system not designed to support them AT ALL. Some have endured forced separation due to immigration policy. . For many, there is no adoption or happy ending. Finding foster parents that care for you is rare (many are furthered abused+neglected). Many of us experience years in homeless shelters, squeezed into a single room, we stay back in school or leave school entirely, & we develop trauma reactions that last our lives: constant fight or flight mode, depression+anxiety, & physiological issues. We disappear into a society not set up to support us. . STILL, many foster kids are creative, kind, and empathic. We go through having the world (our parents, our schools, our siblings, our belongings) taken from us and yet many of us become compassionate and kind. Never doubt that a foster youth has capabilities beyond what TV shows and the stigmatized narrative says. Watch a show like CSI and you’ll see that almost every perpetrator is an orphan / foster youth. In a way, that reflects what trauma does to us, but it also reduces a huge body of young people to a disease or a wound on society, and that’s just not true. . Let’s start making space for a foster youth to grow and blossom. Let’s invite them to contribute to our a projects+literary journals, seek them out in the community, & find organizations in our local areas to support. . At Luna Luna I created a way for former or current foster youth to work with me. Encouragement, positive messaging, love, inclusion, and compassion goes a long way. Visit lunalunamagazine.com to read more.

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Academic and Personal Poetic Pursuits

I started by reading some of the classics — you know, what they taught in school. I didn’t connect with a lot of it, but I enjoyed it more than any other academic subject — by a long shot.

By the time I got to college, I had fallen into a heady relationship with writing. I wrote short stories, vignettes, newspaper articles. I surrounded myself with other students of writing, and I took myself to literary readings and open mic nights. What I most deeply connected with was that everyone who came to writing had a similar impetus: they wanted to write their own narrative, timestamp their own truth, create their way out of the dark.

Around 2008, a friend gave me a copy of a book, Loose Women, by the poet Sandra Cisneros. I found myself falling in love with her raw, feminine, powerful language. I wasn’t connecting with a lot of the texts from my poetry class syllabus: it was mostly Beat poets or old English white guy poets. I rarely saw other voices, and even though I didn’t really know how to articulate this, I felt a massive absence of inclusivity.

But I devoured poetry on my own, like Sylvia Plath and Anne Carson and Gwendolyn Brooks and so much more. I also found that I liked a lot of poetic writing, writing that teetered on poetry but stayed in the lane of fiction or nonfiction — like Anaïs Nin’s journals or Marguerite Duras’ works.

Publishing My Poetry

And then one day in 2008 I submitted my very first poem to an online literary journal (the poem was inspired by Lorca, another poet I loved).  A professor mentioned that there were a lot of online literary journals looking for new voices; all I’d need to do was send in a document of poems by email and hope for the best. So, I did. Sending that email felt like casting a spell. I also entered writing contests (won some, didn’t win plenty more) and I read poems during my lunch breaks at work.

Not many people knew I was writing poetry. It was my own secret little world, and it felt right. When the literary journal published my piece, I roamed the halls of my college on cloud nine, my body alight with pride and fear (what if no one likes it?) and relief. I had become a poet. Or, really, I had become a published poet — because you’re still a poet even if you’re not publishing your work.

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Thank you to @clashbooks + @lezacantoral + @christophpaul_ for creating the TRAGEDY QUEENS anthology (based on #lanadelrey + #sylviaplath)🖤 It was an honor to contribute (thanks for hounding me—I’m a slow writer) along with all the other great talent in the book. My essay was inspired by Plath’s exploration of shadow & Lana’s aesthetics of want and grandiose sadness. Here’s an excerpt (go buy the book!) . . I know this game well, you fool, I say. Because you cannot destroy my blood with my own poison. Because my body will run filters over your trauma. I can make anything a glamour. . . I am in love with a sadness, simply because it is easier to translate it than to conquer it. And I am only good at replacing my sadness intermittently, with my body — because my body can transcend, if only for a moment. Into my body I pour a hundred elixirs and shapes and voids and wildnesses; I can make sacred my misery. . . I learn to find men who make me cult-like in my surrender. Whether I am being loved or left, I find myself bending toward those who can supplant what is, day by day, a leaking in me: a sense of self in a world that values normalcy and good homes and nice girls and early mornings. I am not an early morning girl; I am a destroyer. . . Thank you to @still__orbiting for this snap, to all the friends who came out, and to the wonderful @spoonbillbooks — please support your local bookstores by buying your books THERE when you can.

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After college, I went to graduate school for creative writing with a focus in poetry, on a hefty scholarship and even heftier loans. I spent a lot of my time around poets, writing poetry, and reading poetry. I quickly realized that being around poets was a lot like the real world; there was a pressure to conform, to succeed, to make a name for yourself.

I wanted to be popular and to sound like the ‘cool’ poets, but my voice just did not fit that mold — or so I thought. For a long time, I doubted myself. Still, I wrote what and how I wanted to write. It paid off.

Around that time, The Poetry Society of New York, a group of poets that I worked with and that produced a poetic festival and show in NYC, published my chapbook. It was called Andalucia, and between you and me, it’s still my favorite published book.

It was about 30 pages, and it was written over a feverish week or so — although I’d been building the world in my mind for years.

I took it to literary readings, I gave copies to friends, I sent it to people who I thought might want to read it, and I treated it as a talisman. It was my darling, my little beast, my hard work and imagination and passion actualized.

I went on to publish more books (my last having just come out in November 2018), and I still continue to send poems to journals. In fact, putting out new work is important to me. I’m slow at writing, but I love to bring new words into the world. The poetry an extension of myself.

What Poetry (Still) Means to Me

From the time I fell in love with poetry, it’s been my go-to. It falls into my journalistic and essay work. It’s what I teach when I teach. It’s what I edit for my magazine Luna Luna, and it’s a huge part of my digital life on social media.

All it took was a willingness to write, edit, and send it out into the world, where it grew and bloomed and turned into my life.

If you have questions about poetry or want to chat about your favorite poets, I’m always interested in talking! I can be found at @lisamariebasile.

Why We Feel Like We Would Be Bff’s With Poems and Peonies Poet, Chelsie Diane

By
Ashleigh Angel
Diane Poems and Peonies Poet
Reading Time: 2 minutes

Chelsie Diane of the thriving poetry account Poems and Peonies inspires us to be fearlessly vulnerable.

To read the poetry on @poemsandpeonies is to feel like you’ve finally connected with someone who just gets what it means to capture every part of life. From relationships and healing to health hardships and exploration, Diane captures in her verses that comprise the human experience.

Her poetry illustrates the phases of heartache in a sophisticated manner. Reading her poetry is an eye-opening experience, which is just one of the reasons why we give major kudos to her. If you are currently, or have ever experienced a heartache of any kind her poetry will change you. In other words, if you’re human, you need to be following Poems and Peonies.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Btdqh2YhKvI/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BtQzWWlhhB_/

As if her exquisitely crafted poetry doesn’t impress us enough, her captions are just as moving. Diane has utilized social media to connect with her audience and share her life experiences, candidly and with open vulnerability. Her poetry comes from a place so personal that its relatability is almost astounding. Her Instagram bio captures exactly how her poetry makes us feel, “the year I was brave enough to set myself free and the flowers the universe brought me.” Her poetry speaks from a place of poetic empowerment. And we’re here for it.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BtYhilxBLnI/
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bti0tOgBFbZ/

Poems and peonies, indeed.

We can’t ignore her botanical influence and style, with which we are totally smitten. Her use of language stands out in the space, graceful and powerful all at once. Put simply, we can’t help but feel she’s destined for greatness. She focuses on sharing poems, but occasionally a personal post makes the feed, drawing us in closer to the poet as a person. The real peek at her life behind the scenes comes through her Instagram stories. There is little doubt. We feel like we would be bffs with her.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BtBVyuABB_t/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BsnlVVEhGNc/

To keep up with Diane follow her on Instagram: (@poemsandpeonies)

Valentine’s Day Gift Guide for the Poetry Lover

By
Ashleigh Angel
Valentine's Day Gift Guide for Poets
Reading Time: < 1 minute

It’s a modern woman move to buy a Valentine’s Day gift for yourself. We did, too.

Finally, a Valentine’s Day Gift Guide for the creative spirit in your life. Poetry and literature lovers alike will appreciate (and actually use) these thoughtful gifts.

Back away from the cliche chocolates and heart-shaped tchotchkes, we’ve done the homework for you this February. Valentine’s Day is one of the most festive holidays of the year, all in the name of celebrating those you love. Whether you are treating yourself, a bestie, or a lover, we’ve rounded up a slew of options to make sure you nail it this Valentine’s Day.

  1. Guided Poetry Journal, $15
  2. Mint Typewriter, $220
  3. Journal, $30
  1. Bath Caddy, $25
  2. Library Candle, $30
  3. Wuthering Heights Bath Salts, $7
  1. I Put The Lit In Literature Coffee Mug, $18
  2. Magnetic Poetry® Original Kit, $22
  3. Sylvia Plath Tote Bag, $20

Sacred Nature: Remembering Mary Oliver

By
Lisa Marie Basile
Mary Oliver reading to her dog.
Reading Time: 3 minutes

Mary Oliver was a people’s poet, really — her work was relatable and beautiful and led by the sacredness of nature, something we all know and understand — in our own ways, on some level. It wasn’t something you’d have to use a dictionary to understand or explore. It wasn’t abstract. It was just beautiful. It was poetry for life.

Born in Maple Heights, Ohio on September 10, 1935, Mary Oliver came into the world with a poet’s heart. She would go on to become a best-selling poet (yes, this is a thing!), winning not only the National Book Award but also the Pulitzer Prize. The loss of her earlier this year has us here at little infinite reveling in the many gifts she left behind: her words.

She rarely wrote about people, as many poets do. Instead, she deeply focused on the magnificence, violence, sadness, and beauty of the natural world around us. It wasn’t until her later poems that she started to focus more inward, on her identity of self, as well.

But who was Mary Oliver? How did she come to write some of the most beautiful poetry we all know and love? She started writing poetry around the age of 14, and reportedly retreated into the world of crafting words while dealing with a dysfunctional home life, which included an assault on her by her father.

Oliver was quite private about her personal life, but what we do know is that she consistently found comfort and peace in nature, often sitting in the woods alone to think and create.

In an interview, she said she often wrote during long nature walks: “ When things are going well, you know, the walk does not get rapid or get anywhere: I finally just stop, and write. That’s a successful walk!”

Oliver studied at both Ohio State University and Vassar College,  but she didn’t graduate from either. She even lived for some time in Edna St. Vincent Millay’s (a poet who died in 1950) home, helping Millay’s sister organize her things.

Throughout her life as a poet and essayist, Mary would go on to publish more than 15 collections of work. She would also fall in love with her partner of more than 40 years, photographer Molly Malone Cook. And she would continue to inspire worlds of poets, both then and now, to write.

Critics were always conflicted about her work. According to the New Yorker, “because she writes about old-fashioned subjects—nature, beauty, and, worst of all, God—she has not been taken seriously by most poetry critics.”

And yet — who needs critics? Her readers — and truly, the world of poetry lovers — know the immense beauty she gave us.

Want to get a taste for Mary Oliver’s work? Look at this stanza from the poem, The Summer Day:

I don’t know exactly what a prayer is.

I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down

into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,

how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,

which is what I have been doing all day.

There’s so much love for nature there, so much magic in her words.

And in her poem When Death Comes, she writes about how excited and in love with life she felt — something we can all find inspiration in:

When it’s over, I want to say all my life

I was a bride married to amazement.

I was the bridegroom, taking the world into my arms.

Her work teaches us to embrace the moment, play an active role in how our lives play out, and adore the world around us. It teaches us that nature is sacred, and that, as natural beings, we are sacred, too.

We can imagine Mary Oliver tinkering and toiling in some beautiful garden in Florida, where she passed away, surrounded by water, creatures, and the skies that she loved so very much.

Inspired by her work, we ask you to write a poem about nature. Maybe it’s about the ocean, or the bees, or the trees in your home state. Or maybe it’s about global warming or animal cruelty or the need to reconnect with nature — especially in this digital age.

How would Mary Oliver inspire you?

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“But all my life—so far—⠀ I have loved best⠀ how the flowers rise⠀ and open, how⠀ ⠀ the pink lungs of their bodies⠀ enter the fire of the world⠀ and stand there shining⠀ and willing—the one⠀ ⠀ thing they can do before⠀ they shuffle forward⠀ into the floor of darkness, they⠀ become the trees.” ⠀ ― Mary Oliver, House of Light⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ #paulwoodflorist#instaquote#quotesandsayings#wednesdaywisdom#quotestagram#wordstoliveby#bloom#quotestoliveby#colorado#coloradoflorist#fortcollins#fortcollinsflorist#floristry#floristsofinstagram#northerncolorado#oldtownfortcollins#inspiredbynature#ihavethisthingwithflowers#flowershop#naturalbeauty#inspirationalquotes#poetryofinstagram#wordsofwisdom#inspiredbyflowers#inspiredbypetals#pinkaesthetic#pinkwednesday#maryoliver#maryoliverpoetry#maryoliverquotes

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Feature image via Poetry Foundation

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