Burials - Witchy, Gothic, Feminist, Oh My!
I’ve only recently started to read poetry and it’s really opened this amazing world for me of really talented authors and books to read. I was sent a copy of Burials by Jessica Drake-Thomas by Clash Books and it was described as a gothic collection of poems. Needless to say, I was excited.
When it arrived I was instantly obsessed with the cover, and while you should never judge a book by its cover, this cover is very on-brand for the contents. I devoured this thing in two nights, reading by candlelight in a rainstorm and it completely wrapped me up in its words.
I think I would describe this as Gothic, Witchy, and Feminist. Every poem is a beautiful little moment of sadness, mental illness, anxiety, death, history…..should I use some more describing words? I think you’re getting the point.
So, let’s talk about my favorites!
The opening poem Queen of Sticks is a standout for me. It’s based on Catherine Monvoisin who was kind of bad ass – poisoner, sorceress, fortune teller. Oh, and she had six lovers. The poem is so well written and immediately lets you know what you’re getting into when starting this collection. All punches. “Every day, he gets up, to burn witches. He doesn’t know or see, the woman in front of him – only a body.”
Throughout the collection are three love spells and my favorite is Love Spell Number One. All of them have important messages about being a woman, moving on from an abusive relationship, and accepting your own power. “Open your eyes. There should be no ‘but’.”
Mood Board - images from weheartit
Reasons Why I Had That Meltdown Last Fall, or I Think You Might be a Narcissist is another standout for me as I could easily relate. As quite a few know, I had my own suicidal breakdown last spring and I love how Drake-Thomas writes this quiet, angry, little poem. “Not because of my illness or the hurt. I fight to keep bottled behind a Resting Bitch glare and closed mouth. Not because sometimes that pain comes out, a swarm of bees from a kicked hive…”
Kindred is a beautiful little ode to Frieda Kahlo, “There is both something ugly and something beautiful about chronic pain and falling in love with the drab colors of your own body.”
There’s so many great little quiet lines in this collection that really captured my imagination. I wrote quite a few of them in my journal. “I was haunted. Anyone who’s lonely contains ghost –”
Drake-Thomas has taken inspiration from so many great places including The Vampire LeStat, Louise Bourgeois paintings, Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, A Ghost Story, Kingkiller Chronicles, and AFI’s album Burials. She also takes inspiration from some historical murders like Bella and the Wych Elm and the Black Dahlia.
Burials is just such a beautiful and dreamy collection of well written poetry and I highly recommend it! I’m so happy I have this to re-read and refer back to anytime I feel like it. I also cannot wait to see what Drake-Thomas does next - she’s got a fan for life with me.
This book releases on October 6th and you can purchase it HERE
Also check out Jessica on Twitter HERE
Check out Clash Books HERE
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