Reviews

Haruko/Love Poems by June Jordan

williamsangm's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

dreamgirlgf's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective relaxing slow-paced

5.0

lllayluh's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced

5.0

I bought this collection at the start of the year after having it on my list for quite some time. Some of the poems I was familiar with, but different to read them amidst the pages of poems I had never seen or heard before. Truly a brilliant collection, the love she speaks of if palpable, what it would be like to be the individual referenced in any one of these pieces.

“These poems
they are things that I do
in the dark
reaching for you
whoever you are
and are you ready?” (p. 129)

gaybf's review against another edition

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4.0

lines + whole poems I liked 
  • alternating trustful lust with lyrical delirium
  • Oh! If you would only walk 
    into this room
    again and touch me anywhere
    I swear
  • All because it hurt so much
    to think about you hurt 
  • And I do. 
    I ride these tracks to meet you:
  • agitant against a loneliness as unmistakable 
    as thirst or sex
  • Your voice
    breaks very close to me my love. 
  • Roman Poem Number Fourteen
  • and
    slowly closer
    slowly
    closer
    kissing

    inch by inch 
  • I am amazed by peace
    It is this possibility of you
    asleep
    and breathing in the quiet air 
  • I would risk ticks
    and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
    stop smoking 
    give up the car and the VCR
    destabilize my bank account
    floss before as well as after meals
    and unilaterally disarm my telephone connection 

    other (possible) lovers 
    if 
    we could walk into the mountains then 
    come home again 
    together 
  • And I know that is probably true 
    of his life of our love not to begin
    not to end not be ugly or fine

    But there is this history of once 
    when his hands and the length of his legs 
    came suddenly 
    to claim me all
    bone and flesh forcing away
    the wall and the image of the wall 
    in one
    fast meeting of amazement 

    And that was another year and somewhere 
    else
  • but I watch for your words any changing 
    of your head 
    from a deadspot in the darkness 
    to a face 

    and finally you move

    'I have to get in touch with 
    some other people'
    you say 
    after so much silence

    and I do not move

    and 
    you leave. 
  • never having hoped for anyone (a bebop-
    antelope) like you
    so quietly impertinent and teasing 
    it was 4 a.m. the first time
    when we stopped the conversation
    And long before my face lay nestling on the hotel
    pillows/well 
    I knew 
    whoever the hell 'my people' 
    are
    I knew that one of them 
    is you
  • After All Is Said And Done
  • On a New Year's Eve
  • You Came with Shells
    (excerpt) 
    You came with shells. And left them: 
    shells. 
    They lay beautiful on the table. 
    Now they lie on my desk
    peculiar
    extraordinary under 60 watts. 
  • Maybe I need a woman 
    a woman be so well you know so wifelike
    so more or less motherly so listening so much
    the universal skin you love to touch and who the 
    closer she gets to you the better she looks to me/
      somebody 
    say yes and make me laugh and tell me she know she
    been there she spit bullets at my enemies she say you
    need to sail around Alaska fuck it all try this new
    cerebral tea and take a long bath 

    Maybe I need a man
    a man be so well you know so manly so lifelike
    so more or less virile so sure so much the deep 
    voice of opinion and the shoulders like a window 
    seat and cheeks so closely shaven by a twin-edged 
    razor blade no oily hair and no dandruff besides/
    somebody say yes and make 
    me laugh and tell me he know he been there he spit
    bullets at my enemies he say you need to sail around 
    Alaska fuck it all and take a long bath 
  • it's about the) grace chimerical 
    rising of your own and secret eyes to surprise 
    and to surprise 
    and to surprise 

    me

  • I train my eyes to see
    what I am suffering 
    not to touch

  • INFORMATION 
    WAS 
    NOT AVAILABLE
    THE POOR 
    OF RESSINI
    REFUSE 
    TO COOPERATE 
    WITH AUTHORITIES 

virocaan_'s review against another edition

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5.0

no me gustaron todos los poemas pero solo por los que me gustaron se merece 5 estrellas :p

danthompson1877's review against another edition

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medium-paced

3.75

zenars's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

3.0

ambervdpol's review

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challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

3.5

karensbooklog's review against another edition

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challenging emotional inspiring slow-paced

4.5

'still i am burning unconditional and true
still i am burning unconditional for you'

june jordan might be an all-timer guys...

favs: update, resolution #1,003, poem for my love, roman poem number nine, on a new year's eve, free flight, roman poem number five

winncar's review

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emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

4.75