You Are Here brings together fifty previously unpublished poems by a remarkable group of contemporary American poets. Each piece was written specifically for this anthology, a collaboration that celebrates our relationship with nature in its many forms. Some poems honor ancestors, children, and grandchildren. Others quietly reflect on what the natural world teaches us: about grief, resilience, belonging, and wonder.
The anthology is kind of like a reminder that there is still time to plant trees, to write poems, to fall in love with the earth again, and more importantly, to give something back to it. There’s a hopeful rhythm running through these pages.
As soon as I read Ada Limón’s introduction, I felt the familiar warmth of Robin Wall Kimmerer’s voice: gentle, reverent, and deeply connected to the natural world. Since I love Kimmerer’s work, especially Braiding Sweetgrass, I was immediately hopeful. Limón’s words set a beautiful tone, and I was convinced I was about to fall in love with this entire collection.
Despite the powerful intention behind the book and the beautiful introduction, not all of the poems resonated with me. I wanted to love every page, but many pieces felt distant, like they were speaking a language my heart couldn’t quite understand. That said, there were a handful of poems that deeply moved me and I’ve listed my personal favorites below.
My Favorite Bits
- Tower by Khadijah Queen
(..) both living and dying require giving up.
- Staircase by Jason Schneiderman
(..) And oh my God, are you as exhausted as I am from grieving the planet? Tell me what I’m supposed to say about the end of the world. Tell me how not to be hysterical every time I see what’s coming. Every time I see what’s here. Tell me how to accept that it didn’t have to be this way but that it is. Tell me how to accept this sun, this fire, this sky, this day. Don’t leave me here in these ashes. Tell me to go inside. Tell me not to stare at the sun. Tell me it’s OK to be alone. Tell me it’s OK to be scared. Tell me it’s OK to be grief stricken. Tell me not to give up. Tell me to stop thinking about that woman. Tell me there are things I can’t change. Tell me I have to live.
Author: Ada Limón
Publication date: 2 April 2024
Number of pages: 176 pages
Leave a Reply