Wow. This is extraordinary. I cannot comment in reference to other poets or in any kind of expert way, I can only comment from the heart. The story in itself is utterly intriguing, and I love a mystery (!) - but those poems at the end. Number 4 took my breath away: 'more women in their hearts than on their hands'. With some things that are happening in the world right now, the power and simplicity of this one line is everything.
Every time I read your poetry posts I feel like my mind is expanding. It’s so inspiring exploring something new. I always like to read them a couple of times to ruminate in the words. I’ve not heard of Nayyirah but her work and the mystery around her has me intrigued. Maybe she drew away from the public eye so suddenly to preserve her self after being so exposed. She took back her space and I admire that greatly.
And every time I read one of your messages my heart expands 😍 Yeah I feel like it's exactly that, the overexposure either forcibly or knowingly made her retreat and everything that's followed on from that is a gift from deep within ✨
I love Nayyirah Waheed and have noticed exactly what you describe! I gave away both my copies of Salt and have been devastated to find I can’t replace them - no longer ever through Amazon it seems? I love that you’re looking into this with such loving curiosity.
Kate! Wonderful to have you here, thank you so much for sharing! Isn't she a marvel? :) But where and why is she hiding...? They make for such wonderful gifts but omg that you've been unable to restock your shelves with a copy and they've even vanished from Amazon. Have you tried any of the good second hand sites - off the top of my head, World of Books, Abe Books and even Ebay maybe, worth a try??
I don't know nothing about this name, but now you have me invested! The piece about the ego and "let a new life happen to you" is exactly where I am at right now in life. So your curiosity is like another synchrodestiny to me. How mysterious, just like Her. I'm going into that rabbit hole today, let's see what I'll find on the other side. I do find some similarities with her work and that of Audre Lorde.
P.s. perhaps once you're a name (have been lucky for reaching an audience), becoming a conundrum is what sells just like that poet Atticus with his mask, the anonymity attracts people. Because innately we are allll curious creatures aren't we. And I think a lot of poets call themselves that but actually just "reframe" other people’s work, happened to me countless times too, that's the disadvantage of social media. But how else to be known?
Love that Iris :)))) Dive into that rabbit hole. Yes I need to get into more Audre Lorde. Classically, I own the books, I just need to read them!
I get a real sense of almost hostility to the modern world from NW -- in a very similar way to Banksy but one that's far more internalised and thus that this shift is related to her own spiritual evolution maybe? What do you think? Particularly given the language she uses, plus her work with this artist M.anifest and then of course, this new post (which I think must be something to do with the new work) relating to the ego. Funny that you mention Atticus, it reminded me of Yung Pueblo and then I noticed that the font she has adopted in the new post is the one Yung Pueblo uses...
I definitely think it has a more internalised aspect, emotion, deliberation or perhaps even freeing her own soul this time. Because that's what is most vulnerable about poetry right. (Exposing your truths - letting go (hence "ego"). Shifting perspective, vision just like m.anifest. I think she grew with a different 'knowing', so yes! to the spiritual evolution you mentioned.
To me it seems they all use the same font to make the "flow" of words easier for the reader.
Yeah absolutely!! Such a vulnerable aspect of ourselves to share, like singing :)
The fonts are definitely similar but traditionally NW has used Times New Roman exclusively until this most recent post (even the one before with the blue background is still using TNR) and Atticus uses a different type of serif font, I believe. The Yung Pueblo style is the most simplistic sans serif font available, that I understand other poets consciously avoid now because it's become so synonymous with his work -- which is why it's so curious that she would choose this moment to adopt it!
O gosh, I love a good mystery! And YOU know your fonts woman! But of course you do.
And well, I hacked around the internet and cannot find a breadcrumb anywhere to her new work. So, I guess we have to wait and see, but I bet it will be most meaningful. I wonder what her market strategy actually is.
Never ever excuse yourself for being a nerd! I'm a connaisseur in nerdship so please let your nerd flag fly!
I think you are right about that. But then I start to wonder what her day to day life looks like.. how she provides for herself etc. see the curiosity of the anonymity is really working for me.
Defo have to check back in when she finally releases her work. But I bet you will get inspired to write another part II about it for sure!
Yeah I wonder. A lot of the foundation of her work is rooted in a celebration of Black identity and the role that colonialist capitalism has played into the history of that. Thus she seems to be completely disengaged from the commerce side of things (to her credit!!) but given that anti-capitalist stance I don't think she has any interest in promoting her work honestly, hence not participating in any press for her recent works and that one review being the only sniff of info around. Thank you for looking btw!! I wondered if I was imagining it all at one point but the information out there is SO sparse and her internet following was SO huge. Let's check back in once the new one comes out??
Absolutely Steph! Poetry is so so vulnerable isn't it? More so even than singing maybe - or perhaps on a par with it? :) They both demand of giving something from the depths of us for sure. That's a really thoughtful insight, thank you for sharing. And so wonderful to have you here as part of the community <3 particularly as I can properly picture your face, so glad you joined us last night!
'Language beyond language' :)))))) I know exactly what you mean about Rupi Kaur, for me I think it's genuinely a maturity thing, like it lacks depth of lived wisdom but it still has its own place and just speaks to the much more naive, younger part of me? I also fear that because she became famous so young at that stage of the work that it may freeze her development (lots of psychological studies now show evidence of people remaining at the mental age they became famous) or be an evolution that takes some years to break through, I can certainly vouch for that!! 🤣😭
Ooh yeah keep me posted!! I can't remember where I've read it but it's come up in a lot of conversations to be honest - with people in the field and friends.... Becoming famous is now recognised as a potentially traumatic experience, hence the vouching, and the freezing! As well as what you mentioned re. over-validation. It is most obvious (and prevalent) in child stars and their subsequent breakdowns.
Wow. This is extraordinary. I cannot comment in reference to other poets or in any kind of expert way, I can only comment from the heart. The story in itself is utterly intriguing, and I love a mystery (!) - but those poems at the end. Number 4 took my breath away: 'more women in their hearts than on their hands'. With some things that are happening in the world right now, the power and simplicity of this one line is everything.
Yeah number 4 goes right through me too!! <3
Every time I read your poetry posts I feel like my mind is expanding. It’s so inspiring exploring something new. I always like to read them a couple of times to ruminate in the words. I’ve not heard of Nayyirah but her work and the mystery around her has me intrigued. Maybe she drew away from the public eye so suddenly to preserve her self after being so exposed. She took back her space and I admire that greatly.
And every time I read one of your messages my heart expands 😍 Yeah I feel like it's exactly that, the overexposure either forcibly or knowingly made her retreat and everything that's followed on from that is a gift from deep within ✨
❤️✨
I love Nayyirah Waheed and have noticed exactly what you describe! I gave away both my copies of Salt and have been devastated to find I can’t replace them - no longer ever through Amazon it seems? I love that you’re looking into this with such loving curiosity.
Kate! Wonderful to have you here, thank you so much for sharing! Isn't she a marvel? :) But where and why is she hiding...? They make for such wonderful gifts but omg that you've been unable to restock your shelves with a copy and they've even vanished from Amazon. Have you tried any of the good second hand sites - off the top of my head, World of Books, Abe Books and even Ebay maybe, worth a try??
I found Njema at WoB and Salt on Amazon - genuinely haven’t been able to find them for ages so thank you for the prompt to re look. 💚
Oh what a wonderful outcome Kate! Thrilled to hear that :)
I don't know nothing about this name, but now you have me invested! The piece about the ego and "let a new life happen to you" is exactly where I am at right now in life. So your curiosity is like another synchrodestiny to me. How mysterious, just like Her. I'm going into that rabbit hole today, let's see what I'll find on the other side. I do find some similarities with her work and that of Audre Lorde.
P.s. perhaps once you're a name (have been lucky for reaching an audience), becoming a conundrum is what sells just like that poet Atticus with his mask, the anonymity attracts people. Because innately we are allll curious creatures aren't we. And I think a lot of poets call themselves that but actually just "reframe" other people’s work, happened to me countless times too, that's the disadvantage of social media. But how else to be known?
Love that Iris :)))) Dive into that rabbit hole. Yes I need to get into more Audre Lorde. Classically, I own the books, I just need to read them!
I get a real sense of almost hostility to the modern world from NW -- in a very similar way to Banksy but one that's far more internalised and thus that this shift is related to her own spiritual evolution maybe? What do you think? Particularly given the language she uses, plus her work with this artist M.anifest and then of course, this new post (which I think must be something to do with the new work) relating to the ego. Funny that you mention Atticus, it reminded me of Yung Pueblo and then I noticed that the font she has adopted in the new post is the one Yung Pueblo uses...
I definitely think it has a more internalised aspect, emotion, deliberation or perhaps even freeing her own soul this time. Because that's what is most vulnerable about poetry right. (Exposing your truths - letting go (hence "ego"). Shifting perspective, vision just like m.anifest. I think she grew with a different 'knowing', so yes! to the spiritual evolution you mentioned.
To me it seems they all use the same font to make the "flow" of words easier for the reader.
Yeah absolutely!! Such a vulnerable aspect of ourselves to share, like singing :)
The fonts are definitely similar but traditionally NW has used Times New Roman exclusively until this most recent post (even the one before with the blue background is still using TNR) and Atticus uses a different type of serif font, I believe. The Yung Pueblo style is the most simplistic sans serif font available, that I understand other poets consciously avoid now because it's become so synonymous with his work -- which is why it's so curious that she would choose this moment to adopt it!
O gosh, I love a good mystery! And YOU know your fonts woman! But of course you do.
And well, I hacked around the internet and cannot find a breadcrumb anywhere to her new work. So, I guess we have to wait and see, but I bet it will be most meaningful. I wonder what her market strategy actually is.
Never ever excuse yourself for being a nerd! I'm a connaisseur in nerdship so please let your nerd flag fly!
I think you are right about that. But then I start to wonder what her day to day life looks like.. how she provides for herself etc. see the curiosity of the anonymity is really working for me.
Defo have to check back in when she finally releases her work. But I bet you will get inspired to write another part II about it for sure!
Have a great "hot" Saturday and see ya tomorrow!
Lol, yes I do love a font 😭 what a nerd! Sorry.
Yeah I wonder. A lot of the foundation of her work is rooted in a celebration of Black identity and the role that colonialist capitalism has played into the history of that. Thus she seems to be completely disengaged from the commerce side of things (to her credit!!) but given that anti-capitalist stance I don't think she has any interest in promoting her work honestly, hence not participating in any press for her recent works and that one review being the only sniff of info around. Thank you for looking btw!! I wondered if I was imagining it all at one point but the information out there is SO sparse and her internet following was SO huge. Let's check back in once the new one comes out??
Absolutely Steph! Poetry is so so vulnerable isn't it? More so even than singing maybe - or perhaps on a par with it? :) They both demand of giving something from the depths of us for sure. That's a really thoughtful insight, thank you for sharing. And so wonderful to have you here as part of the community <3 particularly as I can properly picture your face, so glad you joined us last night!
'Language beyond language' :)))))) I know exactly what you mean about Rupi Kaur, for me I think it's genuinely a maturity thing, like it lacks depth of lived wisdom but it still has its own place and just speaks to the much more naive, younger part of me? I also fear that because she became famous so young at that stage of the work that it may freeze her development (lots of psychological studies now show evidence of people remaining at the mental age they became famous) or be an evolution that takes some years to break through, I can certainly vouch for that!! 🤣😭
Ooh yeah keep me posted!! I can't remember where I've read it but it's come up in a lot of conversations to be honest - with people in the field and friends.... Becoming famous is now recognised as a potentially traumatic experience, hence the vouching, and the freezing! As well as what you mentioned re. over-validation. It is most obvious (and prevalent) in child stars and their subsequent breakdowns.