Call Us What We Carry: Poems
The instant #1 New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestseller, now available in paperback and with bonus content!
This luminous poetry collection by #1 New York Times bestselling author and presidential inaugural poet Amanda Gorman captures a shipwrecked moment in time and transforms it into a lyric of hope and healing. In Call Us What We Carry, Gorman explores history, language, identity, and erasure through an imaginative and intimate collage. Harnessing the collective grief of a global pandemic, this beautifully designed volume features poems in many inventive styles and structures and shines a light on a moment of reckoning. Now in paperback and featuring an interview with the author and a discussion guide, Call Us What We Carry reveals that Gorman has become our messenger from the past, our voice for the future.
This luminous poetry collection by #1 New York Times bestselling author and presidential inaugural poet Amanda Gorman captures a shipwrecked moment in time and transforms it into a lyric of hope and healing. In Call Us What We Carry, Gorman explores history, language, identity, and erasure through an imaginative and intimate collage. Harnessing the collective grief of a global pandemic, this beautifully designed volume features poems in many inventive styles and structures and shines a light on a moment of reckoning. Now in paperback and featuring an interview with the author and a discussion guide, Call Us What We Carry reveals that Gorman has become our messenger from the past, our voice for the future.
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Community Reviews
Ironically, in the midst of reading this book I was placed in quarantine for c-vid and I also recently went through a devastating loss that made reading difficult, but I pushed through and finished what I feel to be an amazing collection of poems.
"For it's our grief that gives us our gratitude, Shows us how to find hope, if we ever lose it. So ensure that this ache wasn't endured in vain: Do not ignore the pain. Give it purpose. Use it." - The Miracle of Morning
While I do enjoy poetry from time to time, I am by no means an avid poetry reader so when I do pick up a collection of poems I am quite choosy. If you find this to be true for you as well I would say that this collection is one that should not be missed.
I have so much I would love to say but I just can't find the words right now with the chaos that currently consumes my thoughts, but Raymond's Goodreads review is the perfect summation of my thoughts.
"Amanda Gorman's poems in this collection are very timely to our current moment of pandemic and racial inequality. At one point I thought it was too much but when you get half way in the book, Gorman starts to be more creative and experimental. She uses historical documents from a century ago to make poems and connects that time to our present moment. She does a great job with her use of images and different poem styles. It keeps you engaged and also convicted. She challenges you to think her poems are about one thing but they are about something totally different. Amazing for her first collection. I'm looking forward to what she writes next."
"For it's our grief that gives us our gratitude, Shows us how to find hope, if we ever lose it. So ensure that this ache wasn't endured in vain: Do not ignore the pain. Give it purpose. Use it." - The Miracle of Morning
While I do enjoy poetry from time to time, I am by no means an avid poetry reader so when I do pick up a collection of poems I am quite choosy. If you find this to be true for you as well I would say that this collection is one that should not be missed.
I have so much I would love to say but I just can't find the words right now with the chaos that currently consumes my thoughts, but Raymond's Goodreads review is the perfect summation of my thoughts.
"Amanda Gorman's poems in this collection are very timely to our current moment of pandemic and racial inequality. At one point I thought it was too much but when you get half way in the book, Gorman starts to be more creative and experimental. She uses historical documents from a century ago to make poems and connects that time to our present moment. She does a great job with her use of images and different poem styles. It keeps you engaged and also convicted. She challenges you to think her poems are about one thing but they are about something totally different. Amazing for her first collection. I'm looking forward to what she writes next."
4.5 stars, rounding up because I read it all in one sitting
I kind of wish I’d read this earlier, but it’s also interesting to look at now that a couple years have passed. In the best possible way, you can definitely see her age in her poetry. Gorman is not afraid to experiment with style, form, and appearance. She is clever and witty with her language and, at the same time, speaks simply and clearly so her poems are very digestible. I loved how reading this actually felt like reading a book where order mattered and themes weaved between different sections, rather than just a collection of various poems.
I kind of wish I’d read this earlier, but it’s also interesting to look at now that a couple years have passed. In the best possible way, you can definitely see her age in her poetry. Gorman is not afraid to experiment with style, form, and appearance. She is clever and witty with her language and, at the same time, speaks simply and clearly so her poems are very digestible. I loved how reading this actually felt like reading a book where order mattered and themes weaved between different sections, rather than just a collection of various poems.
What a great way to end the year. I’m always impressed with Gorman’s layered and thoughtful approach to poetry. Many parts of this work fed my soul and were a balm to my wounds and I’m sure I’ll find even more of each upon rereading.
The section of erasure poems were particularly moving for me.
The section of erasure poems were particularly moving for me.
I absolutely loved this book!
Every word felt so intentional and every poem was cohesive to form an emotional and intellectually stimulating retelling of the 2020 experience and race issues in US. I really encourage you to read it!
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