Beautiful poetry. Wonderfully illustrated life with depression. Very talented poet.

I loved Benaim's spoken poem Explaining My Depression to My Mother, so when I saw she had a book of poetry coming out, I knew I had to read it. It's real, raw, relatable, and at times humorous.

Whereas most of today's young poets are chopping up a sentence and calling it poetry, Benaim fleshes out her thoughts, dreams, and ideas creating meaningful, heartfelt poems. I can only hope she plans on releases another book in the future.

I didn't get anything out of this book. The poetry didn't appeal to me, there was anything that felt resonant to my own experience, and a lot of the time it didn't make any sense.

poetry and i usually don't mix / we repel like opposing ions / my synapses don't fire / when sparked by verse / however / a flame was lit at the start / kindled by depression and anxiety / yet heartbreak's oxygen did not fan the flames / satisfied yet / desiring more like / 'explaining my depression to my mother' / a conversation'

i don't know sabrina benaim / never heard her voice / yet depression and i are old buddies / we dance around each other / and make somber music / in the dark recesses of my mind / we love yet hate / one another but / we continue our duet

at times i am sure my getaway car / has obscured my shadow in dust / then i turn the corner / and the sunlight causes me / to glance behind with horror / my shadow has grown large / absorbing the light / and creeps closer / as it follows / sabrina you exhale with eloquence / shine light upon the dark / adjust focus so we can see / the hope depression conceals

anxiety can pick me / out of a line up / loneliness of knowing / in a crowded room / i'm the only one / from my tribe / despair at lack / of understanding / treated like a curiosity / different / not enough

heartbreak / a foreign land / i am an alien there / yet made clear / by hearing sabrina

dark / depression / loneliness / heartbreak / anxiety / despair / swirl into one / flood of emotion / aching / desert of nothingness / numbness / muddy clay that distorts / yet resilience / hope / light

gratitude / netgalley / gratitude / button poetry / gratitude / independent book publishers association / my thoughts for free / lasting impression / set aside other words / drink in this offering / to be returned to again / and again / to sip / to guzzle / to absorb / no regrets