A review by creativerunnings
Rebellion Box by Hollay Ghadery

fast-paced

5.0

Hollay Ghadery's poetry collection "Rebellion Box" spoke to me in so many ways. I've recently started to read more poetry, especially the kind that's sort of a memoir in verse. This beautiful work of art definitely touches on that theme and gives us glimpses into Ghadery's life from so many scintillating angles. 

The theme I most connect with is the one of mental health. I got a hint of unwanted bodily attention from "Water Safety II", one of my absolute favorites. "Runaway Universe" in many ways speaks about the restraint women face in life and the many identities they could take on, were they really free. "Drunk Dream" to me is such a beautiful celebration of being sober and taking in life in all its saturation.


It was a surprise,


waking up in a body I


hadn't been dreaming in 


all I wanted to be


was less


to stare at,


a sign


for him, 


not me,


that read:


Remember, 


checking her pulse


is not the same as


receiving consent


and


drowning people do not


splash and shout.


-excerpt from Water Safety II


I absolutely loved Ghadery's poetry discussing some of the issues our world faces. "The Zeignarnik effect" and its indigenous comment brings me to tears. "Optical Phenomena" seemed to talk about our faltering environment and some the ignorance of the public. 


Look, I see ice melting


while everyone else hops


into their cars and orders


their takeaway 


and I wish 


I could pretend


it's not happening too—


but I


can see ships disappear below


the horizon; can


recognize each of my children


by the way they thrash 


in their sleep


-excerpt from Optical Phenomena


There are many others that ring so true, especially some of the verse on motherhood. My favorite here was "Good Mother Lizard" - it's just the sweetest testament of love for a little girl who might have done a thing out of just that same love.


The chick


is still and she touches its head, softly


says, Sorry


'til I die. It's a whisper,


an inhaled spasm as I pull her to my lap.


She nuzzles her wet cheek against my heart, 


and if there's one thing I know, it's


there's no coming back from this.


-excerpt from Good Mother Lizard 


A definite honorable mention goes out to "RUN", which I interpret as a humor piece. 


Realizing I'm weeks late, we run


to the pharmacy, five minutes before closing


to buy a test. The cashier asks if we want her


to double-bag it, and you say, 


No—


You say,


That's what I


should have done. 


-excerpt from RUN


Thank you for this most beautiful collection. It moved my world, floating through time, in so many ways.