Book Review | Bright Dead Things

This is my first time doing a review of poetry book. I write poems more than I read them but because I want to explore more styles, I’m starting to read as much as I can. Also, this is me cheating on my Reading Challenge. HAHAHAHA! Poetry books are probably the fastest reads.

Title: Bright Dead Things
Author: Ada Limón

The Blurb

Bright Dead Things examines the chaos that is life, the dangerous thrill of living in a world you know you have to leave one day, and the search to find something that is ultimately “disorderly, and marvelous, and ours.”

I like how the title is dead yet Ada gave life to it. As if saying “endings bring new beginnings”. I was caught the moment I saw “the dangerous thrill of living in a world you know you have to leave one day”. Do we really just live to die? Interesting.

The Style

The book is divided in four parts: 1, 2, 3, and 4. Each doesn’t have any title on it, but I think it serves its purpose right.

Ada started the first part with the poem, How To Triumph Like A Girl. It is very empowering. She talked about the lady horses making it look like “it’s easy”. And that females can also, you know, make it. Hell, yes. (and yes, I consider myself as a feminist. But that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate men holding the door open for me. Feminism isn’t as shallow as that. It’s deeper than men bringing your things. Feminism doesn’t make you less of a person or a gentlemen. ANYWAY, THAT DESERVES ANOTHER BLOG POST 🙊)

My favorite poem in 1 is probably The Quiet Machine.

The second part started with a poem called Bellow, “tell them—crazy sky and stars between—tell them you didn’t come to disturb the night air and throw a fit, then get down in the dark and do it.” Personally, I think of this like “do it when people least expect you to. Surprise them. Take them off guard.” Her words are something.

This is my favorite piece from this part, Field Building.

Nights when it’s warm
and no one is watching,
I walk to the edge
of the road and stare
at all the fireflies.
I squint and pretend
they’re hallucinations,
bright made-up waves
of the brain.
I call them, field bling.
I call them, fancy creepies.
It’s been a long time
since I’ve wanted to die,
it makes me feel
like taking off my skin suit
and seeing how my light flies all
on its own, neon
and bouncy like a
wannabe star.

Going to the third, it’s the poem entitled Glow. I’m not sure if I understood it right. Is there a right and wrong interpretation of art? Guess not. But anyway, she talked about the neon flashing sign above the strip joint. “the neon glow was a real star, gleaming in its dying, like us all, like us all.” I find this really liberating somehow.

Here is Oh Please, Let It Be Lightning. My favorite in part 3.

Lastly, Ada started this part with the poem, Adaptation. Her words are sometimes too deep to comprehend and I like it. I like how it’s making me think thoroughly. What I don’t like about it though is that sometimes I got more focused on deciphering her words than feeling it.

My most favorite part here is The Whale & The Waltz Inside It. This is the most heartfelt for me.

I once had a record of whale sounds,
I swear I understood.
It didn’t matter what worlds they were under,
what language,
what depth of water divided,
the song went on and on.
What I mean is: none of this is chaos.
Immigration, cross the river, the blood of us.
It goes like this: water, land, water.
Like a waltz.
I am in no hurry to stop believing we are supposed
to sway like this, that we too are
immense and calling out.

It reminded me so much of Whalien52. I live for this kind of words. 💙

Quote to Ponder

Here’s my permanent puncture, here’s my unstoppable ink.

My Rating

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