Scorched Earth: Poems

A collection of poems about divorce, the pandemic, Black joy, love, survival, and queerness.from Proof: "People get weird about divorce. Think it's contagious. // Think it dirty. I don't need to make it holy, but it purifies— / it's clear. Sometimes the science is simple. Sometimes // people love each other but don't need each other / anymore. Though I think the tenderness can stay // (if you want it to). I forgive and keep forgiving, / mostly myself."from A Louder Thing: "I asked my mother why she always yelled // at me when I was little. She said I never listened / to her when she spoke to me in hushed tones // like a white mother would, meaning soft volume / is a privilege. Yeah, that's right. I am using a stereotype // to say a louder thing. I am saying my mother / was screaming when she lost me in the mall once. // I keep hearing that voice everywhere I go. / I follow my name. The music of her rage sustains me."

“Art made from fracture. Expressionism, improvisation, and collage as ways to survive chaos by turning it into rhythm.” —Wesley VerhoeveTiana Clark’s Scorched Earth is a triumph. You can feel the rhythm pulsing through her words, filling the silences we sense but struggle to speak. She sweeps in with a melody of expression that firmly establishes her as one of the most vital poets of our generation.

I must start by saying that I am not the primary intended audience for this thematic collection of poems. As a single never-married hetero White woman, there were some poems that, while I could appreciate their structure and cadence, I could never fully "get" due to lack of shared experiences. But there was just something about this collection that clicked with me. Oftentimes, I felt like a voyeur on a private therapy session. Other times, I was a fly on the wall during a stream of consciousness talk with oneself. What I appreciated most was the incorporation of pivotal influences in the poet's development, historical references from her collegiate education in Africana and Women's studies, musical influences, and even nature. The dedication to her craft was apparent. These poems felt fresh and unique and unable to be put in a singular box. .

This poetry collection took a deep and introspective look into the mind of Tiana Clark following her divorce from her ex-husband, as well as other topics like the first black Bachelorette and life itself. The poems were filled with raw and unabashed emotion surrounding that loss and the integrity it takes to continue forward.To be completely honest here, I am not a poetry lover but I requested this ARC in order to get a feel for new poetry. While I found Clark's work to be honest and well crafted, I didn't resonated with her stories (and that's okay!) I still enjoyed the poems, especially Delta Delta Delta and The Terror of New Love.Overall, I would recommend to people who enjoy poetry and want to feel inspired to push through. Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books | Washington Square Press for this ARC!