Content Warning
Everything
by Akwaeke Emezi
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Pub Date 1 Feb 2024 | Archive Date 5 Feb 2024
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (UK & ANZ) | Bloomsbury Poetry
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Description
A fiercely contemporary collection which renegotiates the contract between poet and reader in the light of this moment in human history, from the bestselling author of The Death of Vivek Oji
Content Warning: Everything concerns itself with the fugitive nature of being in the world especially, but not exclusively, within blackness. The poems reshape possibilities for poetry by paying close attention to the author's rhythm of thought, making a series of durable anthems from the noise of the contemporary moment.
In this bold debut poetry collection, Akwaeke Emezi – award-winning author of Freshwater, PET, The Death of Vivek Oji and Dear Senthuran – imagines a new depth of belonging. Crafted of both divine and earthly materials, these poems travel from home to homesickness, tracing desire to surrender and abuse to survival, while mapping out a chosen family that includes the son of god, mary auntie, and magdalene with the chestnut eyes.
Written from a spiritfirst perspective and celebrating the essence of self that is impossible to drown, kill, or reduce, Content Warning: Everything distills the radiant power and epic grief of a mischievous and wanting young deity, embodied.
Available Editions
EDITION | Paperback |
ISBN | 9781526661616 |
PRICE | £9.99 (GBP) |
PAGES | 64 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
A powerful collection of poetry, exploring vivid religious themes as well as contemporary every day influences.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC.
This is the first I've read of Akwaeke Emezi's work, and I will certainly be reading more. The first word that comes to mind is visceral- each of these poems deals with complex subject matters in a way that strikes the balance between appropriately horrific and subtly nuanced, and Emezi's ability to wrench the reader from emotion to emotion is held together by a strong core: the impulse to heal, to process, to mourn and put away. Yet there is space for anger within this- there is nothing passive about their work. By concluding the titular poem with 'I am a f*cking miracle', Emezi sets the tone for a stunning collection of poetry.
Particular favourites include 'f*ck me in a fresh grave', 'disc l os u re' and 'self portrait as an abuser'.
Favourite line? the one line poem 'm ou rning'- "i only know the softness that is cherished before the small violences set in."
Overall, a 9.5/10. Fantastic!