lemon

by Isabella J. Mansfield

lemon is an exploration of body and health. The poems in this chapbook come from learning to navigate life with a disability, anxiety and depression, bodily changes, illness and associated medical trauma, and the intersection of physical and mental health.

Genres: Poetry

50 pages, Paperback

Published March 1, 2023

About the author

Isabella J Mansfield (she/her) writes about anxiety, intimacy, and body image both generally and as a woman with a disability. A three-time Pushcart Prize nominee, three-time Best of the Net Nominee and a Write Bloody McCarthy Prize Honorable Mention, Isabella is always looking for ways to bring a little humor into her deeply personal poems, and is almost never sorry to make you cry. She lives in Michigan with her husband and son. Instagram and Facebook @isabellajmansfield

Reviews

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an autistic person with chronic illness this hit so close to home. Loved every single word.

[jay ^_^ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes.

[Courtney LeBlanc · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of poems about the body, disability, mental health, and survival.

from Grief is a Full Body Experience: "grief is not for children / childhood is not / for twelve-year-olds / twelve-year-olds are not adults"

from The Damaged and Broken are Lemons: "someone's been playing / Operation and winning / but it is not you. everyone / else has the same pieces, / same instructions, but not you, / you piece together, / with duct tape and old / hospital bracelets, / and broken parts / and find a new way to play / out of necessity."

from When it Hits: "this is holding an unbound / book, on a bridge, in / a tornado. Even if you could / find all the pages, you'll / never put them back / together"

[Sam Wilson]

In Lemon, Isabella writes of what it means to live a deeply human existence punctuated by doctors, mental health struggles, and constant adjustment. This collection is a moving account of an life changed in (what feels to the reader) like an instance - until you dive into the feelings, struggles and triumphs of the poet. There are specific experiences written into her poetry that folks may not share, though there are more universal truths. I found myself nodding along, recounting my own emotions while experiencing the perfect metaphors and images that the poet paints across the text to bring us all together. You will laugh, you will cry, you will learn - all the best parts of consuming art.

[Linda Crate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very painful but necessary read. I have a disabled friend and she talks about how annoying the appointments at the doctor's office are, but this book really spelled out the annoyance and resignation in which disabled people navigate a world that isn't built for them and how the author has to come to her own terms with her disability and leaving behind things she once enjoyed. It was really eye opening and challenging to read, but I was very empathetic because some of the things touched upon really hit home; because while I've never been disabled, I've been a woman; and some of the authors observations about womanhood resonated with me.

[Tari Griffin-Muñiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book tells a powerful story of living with disability that began in childhood from the perspective of a child to a grown woman. The story is compelling. The language she uses is lovely. As soon as I read it, I read it all over again. I've had the privilege of listening to Isabella read her work many times. Experiencing her poetry on the page does not disappoint. Buy this book, learn more about ableism and the medical industrial complex. Most importantly, learn about the soul this author bravely shares.

[Valerie Calandrino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Isabella is a gifted poet; I had the privilege of seeing her read parts of lemon at 2 Dandelions bookshop and knowing her personally. This work will make you cry, will inspire empathy and compassion, and was a gift to read.

[JHM · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t really have much experience with health issues or disability like the author but even still I thought this was a great book. There were a lot of times i could connect with the poems and I really felt her emotions

[Melba · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful, painful glimpse into what it’s like to live with debilitating chronic illness. My only wish for improvement is for this title to be longer. Lovely poetry!

[Kendra Nuttall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mansfield’s latest book, lemon, is her best yet. Her words are honest, sharp, and refreshing. She doesn’t sugarcoat the sourness of disability, illness, or trauma, but confronts them head-on with stinging strength. Yes, “the damaged and broken are lemons,” and this is a compliment, a rallying cry, because Isabella’s poems “spit bitter white pith” right back at you. These poems, filled with emotion and grit, will break your heart, then help you glue the pieces back together.