The question of resiliency, of learning how to survive and to not just bounce back from life's blows but to thrive, is a central concern of Allison Joseph's work. In her chapbook The Purpose of Hands she ruminates upon such ontological questions. How can identity form when crippled by self loathing, self-doubt? Yet what is a narrative of the Self but a story in which the obstacles placed before us are broken as we arise? It is striking how self-aware she is and what lessons she's had to learn in order to inhabit this world as both a woman and a woman of color. Femininity is much...
The question of resiliency, of learning how to survive and to not just bounce back from life's blows but to thrive, is a central concern of Allison...
WHAT ONCE YOU LOVED is a delight to read and savor out loud--gorgeous and golden in Joseph's trademark poetic elegance and fun, often in the same poem. This chapbook reminds me of all the fun and sass to be had when writing in traditional form--her villanelles especially are full of charm and endlessly kaleidoscopic--and how vital, how affirming it is to read about women's bodies-in all their beautiful shapes. --Aimee Nezhukumatathil
WHAT ONCE YOU LOVED is a delight to read and savor out loud--gorgeous and golden in Joseph's trademark poetic elegance and fun, often in the same poem...
