absolutely one of my favorite poetry collections i’ve ever read. like the lands and fruits melania luisa marte writes about, this book is bursting and ripe and full, the words a celebration of being afro latina and of the dominican republic and of women and womanhood and survival. i’ve watched my video of marte reading abuelita’s garden so many times it’s become a new favorite song. 

i highly recommend treating yourself to this collection and reading it in the sun and savoring the words. before reading her last poem at la times festival of books, marte told us to beware of any women whose feminism only includes women who look like them because they are not to be trusted and ended with “free palestine.” marte is a voice to listen to not just for her creativity, but because her feminism and love extend to all of us who need liberation. 

cws: breast feeding; colonization; death of a parent; immigration; misogyny; rape

photo review here: https://www.instagram.com/p/C7aX9cIPIeu/?igsh=MWQ1ZGUxMzBkMA==