June Poetry and Prose

Poems from June!
1. “Que Sera Sera” by A. Van Jordan
2. To Robert Hayden by Eduardo C. Corral
3. At Last the New Arriving by Gabrielle Calvocoressi
4. Green Card :: Evidence of Adequate Means of Financial Support by Ae Hee Lee
5. Willow by Anna Akhmatova, translated by Jennifer Reeser
6. sorrows by Lucille Clifton
7. An Optimism by Cameron Awkward-Rich
8.Poem of the Day
A Litany for Survival by Audre Lorde

Books from June!
1. Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk
2. Rejection by Tony Tulathimutte
3. Widow Basquiat by Jennifer Clement

Oh this month was interesting for books. One, it felt like an extremely long month, and yet I was unable to read as much as I wanted. I feel the need to be outside when it’s summer, and thus am unable to read as much. I like to take a moment and appreciate when months feel long, since everyone is always talking about how fast life flies by. Take a moment today, if you’re up for it, and really soak in the feeling of the now. I’ll need to remind myself going outside and reading can go hand in hand.

Alright, onto the bad news. The first book of this month I was actually unable to finish. I was not in the right headspace to appreciate this book at this time. I tried to read a little each night before bed, but I think this book needs to be read at a faster pace than that, and thus I had to pause and will return to it at another time. Dua Lipa, I have failed you for now, but I will make it up to you soon. This was a book club choice from a while ago that I thought I would try. One day!

The next book I read I actually thought I would need to pause, but I weathered the storm and it was worth it. Rejection is such an interesting story. It’s metafiction, and I think that’s the reason I ended up liking the book. I was not vibing with the first couple characters and their POVs and their takes and their interpretations of rejection. It was hard to feel sympathy for them, and maybe that’s a personal thing, but I was afraid that the author was being serious about them at first. As the story goes on you see just how connected every character is, and then begin to wonder what is real and what’s not, and that’s where it really came alive. The book leaves you with more questions than answers, and leaves you feeling curious about yourself, rejection, the internet, and more.

The final book I read this month was from June’s Service 95 club choice, and it was very beautiful and tragic. Clement does an excellent job of weaving the written truth with the imagined truth. This story follows Jean-Michel Basquiat had with his muse Suzanne Malouk as they navigate the tumultuous times of the NYC art scene in the 80s. Drugs, Up and Coming Celebrities and Artists, Queerness and Relationships. This is a fast read and one that will get you interested in delving deeper into this world and moment in history.

Book Goal Tracker: 22/30