A Review of Poems [for, about, because] My Friends by the Marvelous Hattie Hayes
Poetry is emotion boiled down to its essence. It is the feelings of your raw heart synthesized into a single stanza. A good poem can bring you to tears with just a few letters, a keen word choice, and broken phrase chopped by the end of a line that leaves your breath stuck in your throat just a moment longer than you expected.
I am not a poet, but I know one: Hattie.
I have described Hattie to friends and family as “a force,” “a walking game of mad libs,” and “magical.” If that sounds silly, well, I can assure you it is not. Hattie is a GEM of a human and one of the most genuine and funny people I have ever met. Life circumstances introduced us, and I like to think the universe sat back and smiled.
On top of being a stellar human and devoted friend, Hattie is a poet. Her first book, Poems [for, about, because] My Friends was published by Bullshit Lit in summer 2023 and has sold out of copies. A shame, truly, because I can not recommend this collection enough. Hattie’s poems are like finding the perfect gift on the shelf of a vintage store, each one feels like a prize: exactly what you were looking for and at the same time something that you had no idea you needed.
Among my favorites are The French Lesson, TKTKTK, and The Book of Matthew.
I admit: I am biased, completely and totally. Then again, her accolades (Pushcart Prize nomination, Best of the Net nomination, and a SAFTA residency) speak to the force that she is as a writer.
It may be precisely because I know Hattie that I fell in love with these poems, but I stand by my review. If you are so lucky to possess a copy of this collection, please share it with your friends. If you do not, keep your eyes peeled for her next one. In the meantime, take this as your reminder to not to ignore the poetry section of your favorite book store, there is so much more there than you may have realized.
I give book 6 of 100 in 2024 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Learn more about Hattie on her website.
Find more poetry and short story collections by rising authors at BullshitLit.com
Sydney M. Crago 