Just finished Diary of Rhymes by Jemelia Moseley, and it’s a beautiful journey through love, loss, and self-discovery. Moseley’s poetry is raw and honest, giving you glimpses of her soul with each verse. Her unique voice and vivid imagery stay with you long after you’re done reading, making this collection feel both healing and deeply resonant. If you’re looking for poetry that speaks to the heart, this one’s worth picking up!

Diary of Rhymes by Jemelia Mosely is a poignant and thought-provoking collection that beautifully captures life's myriad experiences and emotions. Through her introspective and heartfelt poems, Mosely invites readers into her world, where she candidly reflects on love, loss, growth, grief, beauty, and political unrest. What makes this collection stand out is Mosely's accessible lyrical meter, making it an ideal choice for poetry enthusiasts and newcomers alike. Each piece feels like a personal confession, resonating deeply with the reader. Diary of Rhymes is a compelling and soul-stirring journey that leaves a lasting impact.

Diary of Rhymes by Jemelia Moseley floored me! It is raw yet polished, passionate, open and powerful. I felt both lost in the gorgeous prose and found there as well. Beautifully written with power and heart.

I think it takes courage to write and present a book of poetry. So many raw feelings and ideas. I admire the poets.
This book is an accessible book of poetry about loss, grief, love and life.
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/209038322-diary-of-rhymes" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="Diary of Rhymes" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1708971190l/209038322._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/209038322-diary-of-rhymes">Diary of Rhymes</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21004731.Jemelia_Moseley">Jemelia Moseley</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6401287164">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I think it takes courage to write and present a book of poetry. So many raw feelings and ideas. I admire the poets.<br />This book is an accessible book of poetry about loss, grief, love and life.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/10828805-sonja">View all my reviews</a>

Beautiful poetry!! I can really feel the poets feelings within the words. Its quite beautiful and some sad some happy. I know some of these poems were quite hard to put on paper but this poet has done a wonderful job and I am sure everyone can really relate to her as I had. Beautiful poetry beautifully written. What more can I say

I received a free copy of the book and is voluntarily writing a review

Diary of Rhymes by Jemelia Moseley is a captivating book of poetry I'm glad to have read. In true "diary" form, the author gives candid accounts of growing up, experiencing loss, falling in love, and "becoming." As a black woman, I could totally relate to many of the feelings she discusses in "Diary of Rhymes."

This collection is beautifully written, raw, and easy to read without being simplistic or dull. Poems like "Hope Has Two Beautiful Daughters.., "Let's Read Together," and "I See You Blowing in The Wind," show such great expression, while others like "Always Empowered" are written with such boldness and conviction. I devoured these poems, line by line, and could not wait to explore Moseley's next poetic thought as I turned the page.

"Your Inner Beauty" is my favorite poem from the collection. Though I know Moseley writes this poem as a part of her own self-love journey, it feels as though she has written it especially for me. She implores the reader to let their inner beauty glow and to never compromise their beliefs, among other things. It was a true love letter to all who encounter this book. I feel that many young women will gravitate towards these words and hold them in their heart after reading this collection.

Reading "Diary of Rhymes" was an enlightening, empowering experience. I cannot wait to share this collection with friends and fellow poetry lovers.

Thank you to Netgalley and Querencia Press for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.

Recommended: sure
For straightforward language, topics that will always be a punch in the gut, and a balance of hope with the dread

Thoughts:
I generally enjoyed this collection, but it didn't often make me stop and think about the idea or words presented as I typically hope for in poetry. It did make me feel things, but lightly, and I easily moved on. It is very approachable though, and has topics and feelings I think are pretty common for many people. This would probably be a great collection to have or use in a high school classroom for students.

The style of these are mostly free verse, with some rhyming added in, and typically a short length of a page or so. Some were broken into stanzas or lines, but many were more like paragraphs. Sometimes there was strange punctuation used that distracted me a bit and kind of interrupted the reading for me. Maybe I was overthinking them, but I got a bit confused about what they were meant to be doing for me -- line break? new idea? signaling a rhyme? -- and it often took me out of the feel of the poem.

There were a few lines that in particular made me smile or go "wow" at the way an idea was presented, but looking back I remember none of them. Like I said earlier, it was nothing that really lingered with me. This felt more like a nice in-the-moment collection than anything I'll store in the back of my brain to think about when I'm bored in a waiting room and have a little poem to keep me company.

Overall this was a fine collection, and maybe good for a sort of casual or easy entry point into personal free verse poetry. There were all kinds of topics, touching on grief, love, race, advocacy, tributes, and even some that are just a little silly. A poem dedicated to Twitter is not something I expected, nor one dedicated to Chadwick Boseman, so maybe you can get a few surprises or smiles from it as well.

Thank you to NetGalley and Querencia Press for a free advanced copy. This is my honest review.

Diary of Rhymes, by Jemelia Moseley, is a short yet overwhelming and intense collection of poems which, in my humble view, can echo across time.
Clearly, poetry touches people in different ways. To me it's proven to be a symphony of verses that made me feel as though I were sitting by her side, a silent witness, sharing that intimate space with the poet while she was laying her soul bare on the pages of her diary at the end of the most crucial days of her life from her childhood to the present time. While not everything resonated with me, most of these marvellous and powerful notes of vulnerability and strength left their deep imprint in my heart. What mostly impressed me was the fact that they made me feel, in a mysterious way, liberated as she had the talent and courage to put into lyrical words her, my and many other women's deepest scars, grief, rage, intense motherly concern, undying love and unbending hope.
Someone has said that poets are alchemists, turning pain into gold. Personally, I consider Jemelia Moseley one of them and I heartily recommend finding solace in the music hidden among the pages of her Diary in Rhymes.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the poet for gifting me the eARC of this artful tapestry of emotions.

Thanks to NetGalley and Querencia Press for this ARC! 

4.25/5 ⭐️ 
Release Date:  27 Mar 2024
📖: Poetry

Diary of Rhymes is a collection of poetry detailing the many facets of life. The emotions and themes cover many subjects, such as love, loss, pride, politics, and hope. Words are so powerful, and I find it incredibly creative to have everything read so beautifully while keeping the rhythmical writing.

Since interpretation and enjoyment depend on the reader, I found I really liked everything. A few of my favorites are My Destiny, I Represent the Colours of the Rainbow, Flower, and Love That We Found.

"These scars will bleed for the lifetime I will now spend without you."

Diary of Rhymes is a sweet and short poetry collection exploring themes of loss, grief, love, and identity. Though the writing itself is simple, I found most poems touching. I particularly enjoyed 'Buried', 'I Will Wear My Crown', and 'Forgive Me For I Was Angry.' Diary of Rhymes is the sort of poetry book that you would want to pick up on a slow day at home with a cup of coffee in hand as sunlight seeps through the window. This may seem a ridiculous critique given that it's in the very title of the book, but I felt as though most poems would have been significantly more impactful had the focus not been on forcing rhymes. Overall, I'd recommend this to anyone who feels like they could use a quick, light poetry read.

"Diary of Rhymes" by Jemelia Moseley is a captivating collection of poetry that takes readers on an emotional journey through love, loss, self-discovery, and resilience. With poignant verses that resonate deeply, Moseley's words invite readers to explore the complexities of the human experience and find solace in the beauty of language.

Each poem in "Diary of Rhymes" is a window into the author's soul, offering glimpses of her innermost thoughts and feelings. Moseley's writing is raw, honest, and deeply introspective, as she grapples with themes of identity, relationships, and the search for meaning in a chaotic world.

What sets "Diary of Rhymes" apart is Moseley's unique voice and her ability to craft evocative imagery that lingers in the mind long after the final page is turned. Whether she is exploring the depths of heartache or celebrating the joy of newfound love, her words have a lyrical quality that is both mesmerizing and deeply moving.

But beyond its lyrical beauty, "Diary of Rhymes" also serves as a powerful reminder of the healing power of poetry. Moseley's poems are like whispers of wisdom, offering comfort and inspiration to anyone who has ever felt lost or alone.

In addition to its emotional depth, "Diary of Rhymes" also showcases Moseley's versatility as a poet. From free verse to structured forms, her mastery of language shines through in every line, demonstrating her skill at both form and content.

In conclusion, "Diary of Rhymes" is a testament to the power of poetry to touch hearts, stir emotions, and illuminate the human experience. With its heartfelt verses and profound insights, it is a book that will resonate with readers of all ages and leave a lasting impression on their souls.

This hook of poetry was absolutely wonderful. There was pages of loss, hurt, love, politics, pride, and so many other things that all flowed really nicely together. I highly enjoyed this and was pretty captivated by the self love poems in this. I felt how the author felt in my opinion and could just feel the words coming off the page. This was my first poetry book in years and it really took the cake. The cover art really pulled me into requesting the Diary of Ryhmes, and it did not disappoint. It quite literally felt like a diary. Thank you for allowing me to enjoy this book

I am obsessed with this woman's words. She has laid her life out for us to experience. From the happiest of moments, to the invasion of her homeland, to the struggle of being accepted, finding love, being burned, and becoming a mother. She is a phoenix. +

Here words touched my soul and I've decided to have one of her poems tattooed on me next to my Maya Angelou Still I Rise quote because it's a perfect compliment.

Highly recommend.

When I initially requested this book I did not realise that it was going to be poetry - this is something I don’t read enough of and I was pleasantly surprised.

This collection is beautifully written, with captivating imagery and important messages throughout. A lot of these poems have truly resonated with me and I feel like they will have a lasting impact.

I would say the leading theme of grief was well covered and conveyed through these poems and got me to pause and ponder a few times. The author found simple yet impactful way to express the kaleidoscope of feelings around all various types of loss, what is gone, what and how things could have been, and what never got a chance to be in the first place.
My reason for only 3 stars has to do with the very character of modern poetry — which is both overly rhyme-filled and comes across as diary entries… now the book itself is called Diary of Rhymes so I supposed that’s on me and it was accurately titled and executed.

Enjoyable , easy to read collection. Overall, this collection was very well written with interesting content and descriptions. I enjoyed the sociopolitical themes, subject matter, and presentation.

Diary of Rhymes by Jemelia Moseley is a short yet impactful collection of poetry. It's only around 50 pages long but still manages to be filled with meaning and raw emotion. It follows themes of loss, grief, healing, growing up, society, Blackness, racism, love, and more. Since it's so short, it doesn't have much time to explore the topics in-depth, and it jumps from one to another quite quickly, but it is well-written and beautiful to read nonetheless.

The writing style is poetic but straight to the point, and it is easy to follow and accessible, so I'd definitely recommend this for people who are trying to get into poetry but don't know where to start! Since it's so short, it is the perfect book to sink your teeth into the genre. But as someone who's read lots of poetry collections, it still felt fresh and I enjoyed it as well.

Overall, this is an amazing poetry collection that is sure to inspire readers and make them feel less alone in this big, scary world. It doesn't shy away from pain but it looks on the bright side so much more. I liked it a lot, and will definitely read other books by this author, and hope they'll be longer!

A very nice quick easily readable collection of poems. But being easy to read doesn't mean they lack depth or emotions. A few really resonated with me, my favorite of them has to be "Let's Read Together", but I also enjoyed "I See You Blowing In The Wind", "Butterfly", and "A Pathway To Beautiful Peace" to mention a few.

♡ Release March 27 ♡
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This poetry book by Jemelia Moseley is a great read. Some of the poems I could relate to a lot! And gave me all the feelings I needed. If you enjoy poems, I recommend this book.
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I gave it 4.5 stars, I needed the poetry book to be a little bit longer! But overall it's good.
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♡ Thank you netgalley for the eARC for my honest opinion | review.

I find it difficult to rate poetry as it is a very personal type of art. While not everyone’s poetry is my taste, I do recognize the hard work, dedication, and courage needed to lay yourself bare in that way.

While this was not the most enjoyable work of poetry that I have read, there were still some very good works in the book. I recommend that each person read for themselves and draw their own conclusions.