Poetry Readers Challenge discussion

A Fortune for Your Disaster by Hanif Abdurraqib.

In the Dark Soft Earth by Frank Watson.
I won and advanced reader’s copy and have reviewed it as requested.
I liked a lot of this rather different and unique collection.
Throughout the book, the poetry varies from single stanzas, frequently quatrains, to longer works that rarely extend beyond own page. Many are paired with reproductions of appropriate artistic masterpieces that often enhance or supplement the message of the poems.
The poems are a bit out of the traditional norms in both content and form, yet they do carry the vividness and imaginative imagery that makes poetry worthwhile.

To Bless the Space Between Us by John O’Donnohue
The poet describes the book in his introduction not as poetry but as a set of blessings. It is both, and beyond that, the book itself is a blessing.
Each chapter or section is introduced with comments incredible in their lyric beauty. Following each set of remarks, O’Donnohue offers several ‘blessings’ written in poetic formats and unquestionably poetry, no matter what label the poet places on them.
These blessings are each a gift of loving kindness to readers, just as a blessing should be. They warm the heart, nurture the soul, inspire reflection, affirm the spirit.
Reading through these offerings, again and again, I thought to myself, “I want to buy this book and send it to....” and some of the people I thought of will receive copies. This wonderful volume is too good, too loving, not to share.

I have been lucky enough to get an ARC of “Negotiations” by Destiny O. Birdsong.

I have just finished reading of the poetry collection, "Negotiations," by Destiny Birdsong. I have posted a review of it for those who might be interested in reading it.
The book's general themes are racism, sexism, homophobia, and their impact. It is not a happy read and is certainly not uplifting, but it is good poetry and does what poetry ought to do: it expresses and elicits emotion; it communicates with clarity and precision.