Book Review: “Every Watering Word” by Tanya Manning-Yarde

” Every Watering Word” by Tanya Manning-Yarde (2018)

Genre: Poetry

Page Length: 126 pages (electronic review copy)

Synopsis:

This collection of poetry is an ensemble of many themes. Every Watering Word encompasses poetic rumination about women’s self-discovery; stories about coming of age; explorations of sex, sensuality and eroticism; epiphanies gleaned from motherhood and marriage; the structure and impact of racial and gender oppression; the trials, tribulations and triumphs experienced by love; the inheritance of jazz music and honoring the Black Christian tradition while exploring tensions underlying what it means to be African-American and Christian.

Review:

I used to have a difficult time reading poetry, but the more I read it, I love it! Every Watering Word is a magnificent collection of poetry focusing on Christianity, coming of age, racism, music, and more. Manning-Yarde definitely has a way with words and from the first poem I was hooked. Each poem is written in a very lyrical style and some of them felt so raw, personal, and even emotional. I felt them grab at my heartstrings and I appreciated that each poem had its own story. So many poetry collections feel like snippets put together, but I saw a larger narrative woven together throughout the whole book.

Some of my favorite poems include:

A Mecca of Stretch Marks
The North Star, for All Women Warriors
The Temptation to Fall is Nothing Compared To The Strength
Soul Brother
Love Is

I enjoyed the variety of poems in this book and as a whole I felt it was well-written. I liked how some poems were snippets of Manning-Yarde’s personal life, while others were a commentary on what is happening in today’s society. I would be interested in reading more of Manning-Yarde’s poems in the future!

Final Verdict: