Night of the Hawk: powerful, reverential, sometimes humorous, often defiant poetry by Lauren Martin Book Tour with Guest Post & Giveaway
NIGHT OF THE HAWK
Lauren Martin
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GENRE: Poetry
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BLURB:
Ifá.
Nature. Illness. Love. Loss. Misogyny. Aging. Africa. Our wounded planet. In
this sweeping yet intensely personal collection, Lauren Martin tells the untold
stories of the marginalized, the abused, the ill, the disabled—the different.
Inspired by her life’s experiences, including the isolation she has suffered as
a result both of living with chronic illness and having devoted herself to a
religion outside the mainstream, these poems explore with raw vulnerability and
unflinching honesty what it is to live apart—even as one yearns for connection.
But
Night of the Hawk is no lament; it is powerful, reverential, sometimes
humorous, often defiant—“Oh heat me and fill me / I rise above lines”—and full
of wisdom. Visceral and stirring, the poems in this collection touch on vastly
disparate subjects but are ultimately unified in a singular quest: to inspire
those who read them toward kindness, compassion, and questioning.
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EXCERPT
PEACHES
Dear Peaches,
Please stop killing yourself with shameful behavior.
I saw the ass drums.
I wanted to barf. I thought much more highly of you.
You are the slimy lecherous guy on stage at spring break.
Except, you’re 60. I guess that makes sense.
But What is going on? And you question my rituals?
Love,
Muñequita
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Topic: pros and cons of writing in your genre
Writing poems offers a unique blend of personal expression and universal appeal. Poems can serve as a form of memoir, allowing poets to distill their experiences and emotions into powerful, concentrated forms. This personal aspect provides an outlet for self-expression and can be deeply therapeutic. However, the beauty of poetry lies in its ambiguity and room for interpretation, which sets it apart from traditional memoirs or fiction. This openness invites readers to find their own meaning, making the poem "everyone's" in a sense. The cons of writing poetry include potential skepticism or criticism from readers, and the challenge of mastering the craft, as it requires a more artistic touch than other forms of writing. Additionally, poetry's condensed nature can sometimes limit the depth of exploration compared to longer literary forms. Despite these drawbacks, many find that the benefits of writing poetry, such as improved self-awareness, language skills, and creative thinking, far outweigh the challenges.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Lauren Martin is a psychotherapist, poet, and a
devoted ĂŚyânĂfá. Born in Boston and spending many years in New York and
Paris, she currently lives in Oakland, California. Lauren studied psychology,
photography and poetry at Sarah Lawrence College. She spent years writing
without submitting her work due to a long shamanic journey, which led her to
both Ifá, and to the writing of several books (including this collection
of poems.) The upcoming publication of Night of the Hawk (SheWrites Press, 2024),
reflects a deeply personal experience of illness, isolation and true shamanism.
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Night-Hawk-Poems-Lauren-Martin-ebook/dp/B0C9HK2CX7
Website: https://www.laurenmartin.net/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lauren.martin.37201
Instagram: http://instagram.com/frankyisastar
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GIVEAWAY
Lauren Martin will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.
Thank you for featuring NIGHT OF THE HAWK.
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a great read. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThank you for hosting Night of the Hawk!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good book of poetry.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great read.
ReplyDeleteThank you all for following the tour
ReplyDeleteFantastic cover
ReplyDeleteThank you!!!
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