Finding poetry is a journey probably similar to the one writing it. Over the years I tried out different styles of poetry and I am still on the search for those poems that nest themselves into my heart and stay with me. As one can imagine it is a very difficult search and a rating of a collection by different poets can be especially hard.

"The Central Avenue Poetry Prize 2025" is a collection that talks in the summary about diversity. And I found this diversity from time to time in the poets even if the themes were not always. I liked to read the little biographies even if they were sometimes quite short.

Unfortunately most poems of this collection didn't hit the mark with me. Often enough I had problems with the structure that made me lose the connection to strong starting verses. Maybe it is because English isn't my first language and I read a lot of different poems in my mother tongue German. But I already read a lot of poetry in English which I connected with so maybe it was simply this particular collection.

In my opinion the strongest poems were in the third and last part. "I don't think on him on Fathers Day" and "4:45 AM Haunting" resonated on a personal level with me.

It's always a gamble with poems and I think you did a wonderful job of taking the ones send to you and structure them into this collection. Unfortunately it isn't a collection for me as a reader.

This is an eclectic anthology of entries from the 2025 Central Avenue Poetry Prize. Subjects range from mythology to grief and everything in between. The poets are from across the world, adding a nice flavour to the voices on offer.

I enjoyed reading this very much. Some of the poems that stood out for me include Emily Jean's ‘Medusa’, with its brilliant ending: “Perseus can have my head / i've got a garden full of them”

Amy Levitin Graver's ‘Ghost Apples’ is a beautiful and tender poem, with a fantastic image of a “Our coat of arms / are ghost apples”

Victoria Spires’ ‘I Don't Think of Him on Father's Day’ is a moving elegy to a father the speaker has never really known. The use of precise details such as “The Generation Game”, “Penguin biscuits proffered from a worn / plastic tub” and “made ball bearings” helps paint a wonderful picture of the man.

Maha Hashwi’s ‘The Pomegranate’ Is a Grenade’ is a powerful piece, exploring the idea that a pomegranate is more than a fruit since it can also mean “Ruman is pomegranate or shell / Protective covering or explosive artillery”. The contrast between an innocent fruit and a tool of war is done well in the poem.

Interesting collection with very many hits and not that many misses. I have reread some of the pieces a few times and they really talk to me. Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This is a beautiful collection of poetry. Each one is different and brings out it's own feelings.
I really enjoyed all of them and will continue to read Central Avenue poetry.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

There are so many poems, so many poets. All thrown together in one book where you can; not only read their captivating and hard hitting poems, but also read a little bit about each poet and what else they’ve written.

How do you review a collection of poems by dozens of poets, each pouring their hearts onto the page? To me, a good poem makes me feel something, while a great poem leaves a lasting impression, stirring something special within me. But what feels special to me might mean nothing to someone else. Poetry is so subjective, how do you even begin to rate it? Well, let’s try.

This anthology evoked a wide range of emotions in me. With its variety of styles and themes, I believe anyone reading it would find at least one poem that stays with them.

The collection is divided into sections, Journeys, Phantoms, and Bonds, each separated by a simple yet elegant illustration. After each poem, there’s a brief section about the author. While informative, I found that it disrupted the flow of reading. I imagine if that information were placed at the beginning or end of the book, many readers might skip it altogether, I certainly skimmed through it.

The Phantoms section stood out the most for me, with dark and intense themes that deeply resonated. Although I found myself highlighting quotes from poems throughout the entire collection.

Overall, this is a fantastic anthology. While some poems weren’t to my personal taste, they were all skillfully crafted. I think anyone interested in poetry, especially those seeking fresh, emerging voices, would enjoy this book. These poems undoubtedly capture the pulse of the human experience.

***I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review

*****My enjoyment rating is 4.5/5, and I’ve given it a 5 star rating on Goodreads, which I’ll also add to Amazon once the site permits.

There are some really good poems in this collection, and I liked that they were separated into different themes.

I did find it a bit odd how the same information was repeated for recurring poets. I think it might have made more sense to link all the poems up rather than giving the poet's background multiple times over.

Overall, it's a good collection and I would recommend it to fans of poetry.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC