Read this on the floor of Barnes and noble this year. Something about it really touched me...my favorite stanza for a while was the one about stories and trees. And then I found the one that said, only with new lines may need lives be called into order. Kinda reminds of Hamilton’s “I’ll write my way out.” And it emphasizes the importance that stories play in shaping history. If we notice a change that needs to be made we have to be the ones to rewrite the narrative

What I wouldn't give to hear this author recite these out loud. This is poetry that needs to be heard - though you can hear the sound and rhythm just reading them. Beautiful turns of phrases and imagery.

The very beginning of the book I wasn't sure, but I was a believer by the end.

"come, my love
we have mountains to climb
wilderness to wander"

Eh not my thing. Some lines were so beautiful and then the rest were just confusing or really not my cup of tea. I normally really enjoy a good poetry book, and this was beautifully formatted, but the poetry itself was not something I enjoyed :/

this book caught my eye with its packaging; a pretty little product with lots of fonts and sizes and such that seemed like a cool way to write a manifesto. That being said, the writing was borderline terrible, featuring cheesy puns like "mind altering/altaring", "a burning Bush", "this loaded phallus has becum" and the conclusion that matriarchy will solve all our problems (as if Hillary did not vote for the war, as if Judith Butler had never written a book, as if gender is a duality and not a multiplicity). The fact that the plurality of forms tends to fade in the last 2 or 3 sections also points to the fact that it's gone from poetry to propaganda.

If you're wondering what the shotgun said to the head, it said "Mother Nature's a whore," an intentional mis-phrasing of Nirvana, which is followed by a predictably-terrible line reappropriating the song title "Smells Like Teen Spirit".

I am unsure when poetry became allowed to be removed from logic, reason, or comprehension. I do know that whenever this happened poets stopped being "midwives to reality". If you leave a five star review on something "you didn't understand half of" you lack values.

Here we untangle the writings of Saul Williams as he begins discussing a woman who has changed his life with a fleshy kiss (while dedicating this book to his mother I might add). This continues until it turns out that SHE, the female goddess that Saul tries to convince you to throw your life away for, is the love of your mother and every other woman who holds the lock to life. I cannot comment on how this must seem to female readers, but I would assume it is empowering as it is meant to be. While there is nothing wrong with female empowerment or a critical take on American society. There is a flaw in degrading men of this society in order to lift women up.

"You have
erected ancient penises
in your capitols
and prayed
in the name
of a father
a male child
and a ghost"

To reject the inspiration of skyscrapers, obelisk, and towers is truly baffling. To reject the spiritual role of a father or son is ludicrous. To think as a man any praise of other men is flawed and wrong. What you are preaching for is a society with weak men dominated by evil men. All while suffocating men who hold up the foundation that you stand on.

These poems are necessary, and American culture has it's flaws. The fact this culture allowed this work come to be is probably the most ironic thing about the entire presentation. When you get down to it the entire work seems meaningless in the face of what real life has to offer.

Poetry tends to go over my head, but there were a few lines and stanzas I really liked from this.

What a great writer. My favorite Poet, and author. Fabulous man!

1.5

Couldn’t really connect with this one sadly - it’s a very quick read though ☺️ read a good half out loud so that was fun

3.5 stars
I enjoyed this poem. I loved the format. I loved the grit and I loved jumping into the political statements being made. But it took me quite a few pages to get to that point. I wish I had gotten into those feelings sooner. But this is a fantastic work that makes a huge statement on the aftermath of 9/11 and the link between belief and politics and violence.

Said the shotgun to the head is genius. Just pure genius. I don't know where that man got his talent, but I'd so love to just pick his brain. He's so good he makes me want to be better at everything i do!I want to be as good at anything as he is at writing poetry!I will never stop looking for that thing, and when I find it my life will be worthwhile even if I never make a dime. I cant love him or this book more, it will never leave me.

A fantastic, riveting and challenging long-form poem. Would recommend!