The Poetteer

Hello Poetteers,  I'm here again to compile the upcoming poetry book releases of 2021.   January I Must Belong Somewhere By Dawn Lanuza  Written during her year of rest and travel, this new collection speaks to the indescribable feelings of displacement and longing for the companionship she left behind. If I Tell The Truth by Jasmin Kaur Told in prose, poetry, and illustration, this heartrending story talks about living undocumented and the constant anxiety over safety. Poems for the Dawn by Jen Rogue In her Letters for the Universe Goodreads Choice Nominated poet J.R. Rogue shares intimate poems written lovingly for her readers. Take a journey through the eyes of author and reader as Rogue shares a glimpse into the private task of writing poetry dedicated to readers worldwide. Shine Your Icy Crown by Amanda Lovelace This is a story about not letting society dictate the limits of your potential. it’s time to take back your power & realize that you don’t need a king i...

 Hello Poetteers, I had the honor of editing this poetry collection.  it's past midnigth somewhere by Jamal-e-Fatima My rating: 5 of 5 stars I love the imagery of nature and love. There is a beautiful awareness of cultural identity and faith. It resonated with me. I can feel the pain and pride behind the poems. There are pieces included that empower the reader. Purchase the book !

Hello Poetteers, I recently read The Sweetest Kind of Poison by Katie Wismer and enjoyed it.  She released a new poetry book today! Blurb: If you are underwhelmed by me, please just let me go... Poems for the End of the World is a coming of age collection and exploration of the confusing and disillusioning trek through young adulthood in a broken world. Divided into four chapters—waking up, growing pains, crushing realities, and disappointing beginnings—this collection covers everything from self-discovery and heartbreak to chronic illness and fresh starts. Author Bio: Katie Wismer is a die-hard pig lover, semi-obsessive gym rat, and longtime sucker for a well-written book. She studied creative writing and sociology at Roanoke College and now works as a freelance editor in Colorado with her cats Max and Dean. Her first poetry collection The Sweetest Kind of Poison and her debut novel The Anti-Virginity Pact are available anywhere books are sold. When she's not writing, reading, o...

Hello poets, I've noticed people reading poems from male 'she' poets. It’s frustrating. Its tiring. Men plagiarizing women’s work. Men mistranslating other poets' work. Men writing about women’s trauma. They should not be writing about women's experiences. Men should not be writing about female trauma or beautifying mental illness. They can’t tell women how they should feel and deal with their mental illnesses and trauma. You can write dark pieces and about mental illnesses without "romanticizing" it and being harmful. Leave females to write about their own traumas and their own stories. Have you ever read a poem about their personal human experience? Do you notice who they refer to in their poems? If they never talk about their own experiences and always share someone’s else narrative it can be problematic. We shouldn’t be writing about a human perspective we haven’t experienced. We should control our own narrative and pass the mic to the other necessary ...

Hello Poetteers, On one side of the poetry world we are encouraging of those who are willing to be vulnerable in sharing their stories. On the other side the poetry world is a mess. The poetry world needs a change. 1. Poets are mistranslating other poets. One example is Barks vs. Rumi. Barks didn't know the language or religion; therefore, he took out the religion. He changed it to be sexual and to fit his westernized spirituality. I break it down in my posts:  Rumi  and  Arab History . Make the time to learn and research your topic. Don't invalidate one's beliefs to fit yours. 2. Poets are plagiarizing others. Time and time again it resurfaces that Rupi Kaur plagiarized Nayyirah Waheed's poems and its style. Rupi has called Nayyirah one of her inspirations. In summary, Waheed has reached out several times to Kaur about the similarities and Kaur denied it. Reading a poem or book that inspires you can affect your subconscious. When it comes to working on you...

Hello Poetteers, My poetry represents me and my books represent the poems it holds. It was obvious to put myself on the cover of my first book. I regret not having a muslim girl on the cover of Her Olives but I love the cover enough to not want to change it. I didn't think of representation until I was about to publish Her Treasures and Her Durian . It was an effortless and subconscious choice. My creativity reflects me. With self publishing there isn't any gatekeeping. I spent my childhood buried in books. I never saw myself in them. Whether it was a character or the cover. The first time I saw a muslim girl on the cover was ' Does My Head Look Big In This ' by Randa Abdel-Fattah. YA books are changing. It took about 10 years. There was a push for diverse stories and own voices. Within my own reading a muslim girl didn't come up again until ' Saints and Misfits ' by S.K. Ali. Are poetry books making that change too? It feels like a trick question. Fa...

Hello Poetteers, Happy new year! I'm looking forward to more poetry from new and favorite authors. January All Along You Were Blooming by Morgan Harper Nichols "A celebration of hope. An encounter with grace. A restoration of the heart. A healing of wounds. An anthem of freedom. All Along You Were Blooming is the ultimate love letter from the pen of popular Instagram poet Morgan Harper Nichols to your mind, to your heart, to your soul, and to your body." February Sincerely,  by F.S. Yousaf "Searching for a profound way to propose to his love, F.S. Yousaf reread the letters she had written him. In them he found his proposal, as well as inspiration to write his own prose and poetry. From this inspiration, Sincerely was born. It carries messages of positivity, hope, and most of all, true love." shot glass confessional by Cyrus Parker "Non-binary poet Cyrus Parker returns with shot glass confessional, a collection of 50 shot-glass-sized p...

Hello Poetteers, There are several poetry misconceptions and annoyances floating around social media. I want to talk about a few top ones. Poetry needs to be romantic. No, it doesn’t. It can be any emotion. Poetry needs to include rhyme end words. No it doesn’t. You can have your poem be rhythmic in other ways. Vague self love/positivity poetry: It sounds like a piece anyone can write. Make it specific with your own experience. Male “she” poets: It’s frustrating that male poets are writing about women’s trauma. I already shared my thoughts in this instagram post . Men should not be writing about female trauma or beautifying mental illness. “insta” poets: Poets on instagram is not any different from poets who don’t use social media. I like what Lang Leav said about this label, “This new and dynamic movement is sometimes referred to as ‘instapoetry.’ A label I personally believe is silly and makes no sense. Using a social platform to define a genre of writing is ...