my main issue with this collection, though i loved several poems, is that it very frustratingly gets in its own way. the first part of the collection is by far its weakest - i nearly stopped reading there - but the next three parts show a decent mastery of language & explore topics in much more depth, with much more empathy and understanding. i say decent & i mean it. the language is an issue in that it interrupts the poems.
clark has a habit of intervening so directly and so jarringly just as the poem is taking off (which is perhaps the point & in that case i’m not the reader for it) with some modern phrase that is out of place or an overused cliché of a metaphor or an unwarranted repetition, and it makes the poem shallow, superficial. the first part, in particular, is a victim of such patterns & it really is a shame, because mostly i felt the poems were going somewhere new until they weren’t.

My first poetry collection of the year. And wow did it deliver. Hearth wrenching. Captivating and enlightening for those who want to grown into the person they desire within. The starting poems relate to her husband and the feelings she felt throughout the marriage. While closer to the end talked about the raw feeling of exploring desires, being true to ones self. Absolutely gorgeous pretty and I recommend this read.

I absolutely loved these achingly beautiful poems. Tiana Clark writes about her experiences as a queer Black woman and touches on topics ranging from divorce to religious trauma. The way the book is structured, with a poem about her husband moving out at the beginning and the poems toward the end focusing more on sex and celebration, it’s like we’re on a journey with the author as she comes into her own. These poems are often pages long, but they earn every single piece of their word count. I loved getting a glimpse into the author’s mind and I fully recommend this book.

Scorched Earth poems by Tiana Clark 5/5✨
An incredible collection of poems that artfully trace Clark through different experiences during their mid-thirties. I found the poems to be heart wrenching and vulnerable while also navigating incredibly difficult topics. I loved how Clark navigated feelings of grief and depression, feeling beautiful, parental relationships and love.

I will be posting closer to the date of publication on my Instagram.

It’s a bold, boundary-pushing anthology that reflects the dynamism of our times. A must-read for anyone looking to experience poetry that’s as daring as it is deeply resonant.

A strong collection from an acclaimed young poet who will undoubtedly be an important voice in contemporary American poetry. I enjoyed the strong and vivid language as well as the way the collection cohered around central themes of love and loss, divorce and new romance.

(haven't submitted review to Goodreads or Storygraph yet, per publisher's request - already set up reminder for myself to submit review there on publishing date!)

Absolutely beautiful. Moving while also provoking deep thought, at times on topics I hadn't considered much before - especially being a white woman. I appreciate this raw, first hand account of how our culture's beauty standards impact how black women see and care for their bodies; Overlap can be found, sure - but so much more has been deemed "required" for black women's self care than white women's.

A beautiful and vulnerable, lyrical, poetry collection.
I really enjoyed this one.
I think I need to let this one sink in a bit more before doing a proper review.
These are some really beautiful and honest poems and I will be thinking about them for a while.
Highly recommend.