It was an interesting poetry book but not really my cup of tea. I love the thing with those invented words which should exist in English. I also think this could be a pretty good poetry collection for many of you. Thank you NetGalley for the book!

I enjoyed this book of poetry. Though I did prefer Rudy’s first book Helium more. I am eager to read more of his work in coming years. He has a great talent of painting a picture with very few words.

Rudy Francisco has to be one of the best contemporary poets. Everything he writes is magical. Including his new poetry collection, I’ll Fly Away.
The concept of this book is incredibly creative; each section introduced by a word for which doesn’t exist in the English language. Rudy identifies deep feelings that we cannot verbally express, assigns each of them a word, and delves into further meaning. He covers several topics such as family, racism, and mental health.
With sensitive subject matters, he still finds a way to instill a sense of hope. This book is life embodied.

I really enjoyed the first half of this collection a lot. Francisco's poems about love and life were really touching. In the second half, he writes some poems about his daughter and they were absolutely beautiful. I wasn't a huge fan of poems tackling political topics and social problems, but that was because I was looking for something lighter to read.

Let me start off by saying this is the best poetry collection I’ve read all year, hands down. That’s saying something seeing how back in August I read a poetry collection for each day of the month as a reading challenge. Francisco is a master wordsmith. His pieces are thought provoking, engaging, and deeply honest.

I enjoyed the “dictionary” theme that was featured throughout the collection. Francisco is vastly talented at his craft. This is a collection I will return to on multiple occasions!!!

I would recommend this collection to fans of his first collection, Helium.

"I tell myself that every hour is happy hour, as long as I am on this side of the ground..."

If you are among those of us who believe books find us at just the right time, believe me when I say "I'll Fly Away" by Rudy Francisco found me and entranced me at a most convenient time.

I am no stranger to Francisco's work. In fact, I've been following him for quite some time. Becoming a fan after finding his spoken word poetry on YouTube, then connecting so deeply with his collection, "Helium," I could not wait to devour "I'll Fly Away." Digesting this book of poetry did come with a price, however. You will feel the words in your chest long after the read is over.

I was intrigued by the unique format of this book. On one hand, the poems are introduced by words not recognized by the English language. On the other, there are erasures of popular songs intermingled throughout. It made me think of all the emotions we carry within us that we don't have the language to articulate.

Just as I'm introduced to the theme of death in the English translations of words I've never seen, references of Nipsey Hussle emerge. Before long, tears are flowing. I mourn people I never met that I somehow feel attached to. I grieve a failed marriage between the author's parents because being in close proximity to someone, yet still 1,000 miles away, is too relatable. It's safe to say "I'll Fly Away" excels in lending words to feelings of despair and sadness unlike any other book of modern poetry I've read so far.

Spanning topics of racism, police brutality, loss, and eventually hope, "I'll Fly Away" is a lesson on transparency. He admits he's not okay, even though his words and fake smiles convince onlookers otherwise. He confides the angst he felt when his high school crush entered the room in 1999, and regrets not approaching her years later. And while Francisco bares his feelings of sadness, he is still hopeful for better days ahead.

I recommend this book to any lover of poetry. Hopefully this book will choose you at the right time, just as it chose me. I would, however, like to offer a trigger warning. Reading while depressed can be tricky. Either you will be comforted or triggered, depending on your journey. Take care of yourself and prepare accordingly.

🌟🌟🌟🌟⭐ (4.5 Stars)

Major thanks to Button Poetry and Netgalley for the ARC of I'll Fly Away by Rudy Francisco in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Button Poetry & NetGalley for the Reader's Copy!

Now available.

In his second poetry collection, Rudy Francisco is exuberant and boundless with his play of form and word building. Not satisfied with the English lexicon, Francisco's "I'll Fly Away" is staged by a series of invented words which he then strives to define and put into context. It's a delightfully creative thesaurus to browse through with deep ponderings on life in America as a black father, a poet, and a teacher. There's something just uplifting about Francisco's poetry, its effusive & direct approach, its hope. Much like a hot air balloon, this collection will blow you away.

Memorable lines:

"I fumble through/the only language I know/and find everything/but an answer"
"I want to laugh so loud/my demons pack their belongings and decide to move."
"loneliness is a rumor your thoughts are spreading about your bones"
"I tell myself that every hour is happy hour, as long as I am on this side of the ground."

I. LOVED. THIS.
I don’t want to spoil the concept since it was so creative, but if you like poetry at all, you need to read this! I love how deep these poems are about love, parenting, race, and self-worth.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an advance reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was such an intriguing beautiful piece of art. Taking made up words, giving them definitions and creating heart breaking sentences to perfectly describe what the words would mean. This book of poetry moved me, broke my heart, and just brought to light so many changes and things in this world.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This writer never does disappointing and reading this book is certainly proof of this as Rudy Francisco returns with a new wonderful collection of poetry. Told in his own voice throughout every poem, this collection couldn’t be formed by anyone else and it makes for a collection of poems that will make you mad, sad but also put a smile on your face – these poems flow right together and it makes for a read that will take you to every emotion you have.

The words the writer creates break up this collection of poems that connect back to the word and it works so effectively as they draw you in. No matter how short these poems are there’s something to take away from them as Francisco delivers lines that are just perfectly pitched – poems such as ‘Here I Am Today’are short but sweet with that last line that hits you with incredible feeling. How each poem is delivered throughout leaves you hoping for an audio version.

A collection of poems that covers a spectrum of things and all delivered perfectly, Rudy Francisco returns with a collection that gives until the very end of the book. ‘I Hope The Camera Gods Bless You With A Steady Hand’ is such a light and bright slice of joy here, then you have the impact of ‘When They Say He Is Black’ which is just a striking slice of poetry that sticks to you from the moment you read it. This collection is a perfect balance.

Button Poetry has published so many great poets, and Rudy Francisco is certainly another of them, another stunning collection from beginning to end.

<i> My parents
were in a long distance
relationship for over 30 years,
and they lived in the same house.

I learned you can
be right next to someone but
also 1,000 miles away from
them without asking geography
its opinion.

Often, the space between 2 people
can be measured by the number
of the times they look at each other

and feel nothing. </i>


Rudy Francisco is easily my favorite modern poet. His poems always touch something inside my soul. Always make me emotional. I don't know how he does it, but he does it.
Helium is one of my favorite modern poetry books. I loved this too, but not as much.

I'll Fly Away by Rudy Francisco is a stunning collection of poetry covering important themes such as marriage, love, fatherhood, racism, discrimination and more. There is a magnificence to Rudy's writing, which is raw, refreshing, emotive and sometimes hard-hitting. I've only just come across Rudy Francisco, and he is now one of my favourite poets. I'll Fly Away is probably the best poetry collection I've read in a long time. Thanks to NetGalley and Button Poetry for this advanced reader copy.

Unfortunately this just wasn't for me. I struggled to connect with the style and couldn't connect emotionally either. I'm sure this will be perfect for someone, it just wasn't right for me.

I’d heard Francisco’s spoken word poetry, but I’d never read one of his collections before. So I was excited to receive an ARC of I’ll Fly Away from @netgalley.

Honestly, I loved this collection. Francisco’s poems are funny and honest and lyrical and sad all in one verse. I especially loved the central idea that shapes the collection: inventing new words for specific feelings or actions. I loved how these invented words set the mood of the following poem.

Seriously, you need to get a copy of I’ll Fly Away. It’s one of the best poetry collections you’ll read this year.

*Thank you to NetGalley, who sent me an ARC in exchange for an honest review* I’d heard Francisco’s spoken word poetry, but I’d never read one of his collections before. So I was excited to receive an ARC of I’ll Fly Away from @netgalley.

Honestly, I loved this collection. Francisco’s poems are funny and honest and lyrical and sad all in one verse. I especially loved the central idea that shapes the collection: inventing new words for specific feelings or actions. I loved how these invented words set the mood of the following poem.

Seriously, you need to get a copy of I’ll Fly Away. It’s one of the best poetry collections you’ll read this year.

*Thank you to NetGalley, who sent me an ARC in exchange for an honest review*

When. I saw a new collection of poems by Rudy I needed to request it right away. I love his last books and I always listen to him when he shows up when I'm scrolling Button Poetry facebook page. This set of poetry is stunning and I am so excited to get it in print. I could hear his voice throughout which really makes it more meaningful. Thank you for the opportunity to read!

Miranda Rights (Erasure)
“You have the right to remain silent. you can be used against you in a court of law. You cannot afford an attorney,. It is the year 2036 and yes, J-Lo still looks amazing. Morgan Freeman still looks like...Morgan Freeman. Lil Wayne is 53. He still drinks lean and recently stated telling everyone that he invented hip hop. It is an election year. Beyoncé is Democratic Presidential Nominee, and her campaign slogan is “To the left to the left.” Conversation is officially a word; skurtskurt is also a word. On TV, there are commercials asking if you drank Four Loki in the 2010’s, because you might qualify for financial compensation. Popeyes just brought back the chicken sandwich, Chick-fil-A responds by opening on Sundays and McDonald’s finally fixed the ice cream machine. Arby’s went out of business 10 years ago, and no one noticed. Candy corn is illegal, Milky Ways are also illegal, but you can still buy guns at Walmart. We had a mass shooting last week, and it wasn’t even on the news. We still write poems about racism. Most of the police force has been replaced by drones. Unarmed black people are still being killed, but now it’s being called a mechanical error.”

I’ll Fly Away by Rudy Francisco is a MUST-READ! I encourage you to find a copy as I know you’ll enjoy the work he has put into this most necessary collection of poems. His showcase of creativity in building words and concepts that do not exist in the English language is so thoughtful and real. After all, it got me to thinking: why should language be confined to boxes that do not exemplify all things especially: brilliance. I AM HERE FOR the alternate endings, also known as NOMORTICE, as well. This collection spoke to me and moved me on so many levels. Covering a variety of themes (some potentially triggering, others not) from mass shootings, social justice issues, politics, law and order, violence against women etc, each piece left me desirous for more.

Easily one of my favorite collections of the year! Kudos.

Thank you to NetGalley and Button Poetry for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Publication Date: 12/8/2020

I was introduced to Rudy Francisco (@rudyfrancisco) about 9 months ago from @ButtonPoetry through his book #Helium. I wasn’t blown away, but I’d pick it up again and give it a reread. Some of the angst, while witty, seemed a bit trite.

BUT, and I STRESS THIS IN ALL CAPS, Francisco’s I’ll Fly Away (#illflyaway) is one that takes me off the ground and keeps me soaring. The wit is sharper, punctuated, and convicting.

The concept is fun. He invents new words and gives them a definition. Then he fleshes the definition out in short poems. Sometimes he pulls (or erases) the words of lyricists to set him up, but he always is the one launching tone.

Dominated by first person poems, he acknowledges that he is one of many and may never see the end of this human experience migration, but he is a part of it. He writes:

“What I know is this / a runner doesn’t always cross the finish line, / but a baton can look like a microphone depending on how you hold it.

Francisco just notices things that are so simple, yet he makes the mundane so fresh in conversation with his reader. Such as:

“I’m rooting for you / because I know the sun is not stingy with its rays and has enough light to go around.”

Or

“Have you ever noticed / how much water hates to argue? / How it molds itself into the shape of the pour,”

Not long ago, I read and gave a brief review of Ain’t Never Not Been Black (#aintnevernotbeenblack) by Javon Johnson (@javonism). I highly recommend it. Francisco's work hits me just as hard with lines reclaiming John Henry with an “alternate ending” compared to his powerful brother.

Rudy Francisco has wings to soar thousands of times beyond my review. Winner of poetry slams, a So Cal phenom performance poet, I highly recommend this text. I was carried away and read in a single sitting.

@netgalley #poetry #poems #poet #bookreview

In this stunning poetry collection, Rudy Francisco makes up his own words to express different things about his life and the world. He writes with so much honesty and raw emotion that you can't stop reading until you consume and absorb every single word. Every time he writes about something serious, he says it in a way that is so straightforward that it knows the air out of your chest.

When I ran into this collection on Netgalley, I was so excited to read this that I dropped everything I was reading and I dove in and didn't get out until I read the last word. It was such an impactful and stunning poetry collection, and I really recommend it. It's a short book but one with so much impact.

Thanks to Button Poetry for the DRC!!
I'm so glad I requested this book, because now I know so many new words I never heard before.
Love all the poems!

By far one of my favorite poets of all time. He has a voice that speaks to my soul. I was so sad that this book had to end. I would highly recommend this book to anyone!