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A Black Girl's Poetry for the World
Poetry on love and life
- GenresPoetry
136 pages, Paperback
First published April 13, 2011
36 people are currently reading
127 people want to read
About the author
Kimberly LaRocca
7 books22 followersDeath is final.
Death can be painful, not just for those who suffer it, but for the ones who are left behind. The survivors. The ones who maybe didn’t get what they wanted from their relationship or the failed suicide attempt that leaves them clinging to a life no longer wanted.
And death can be tragic.
In this collection of short stories, Death and Other Things, the many façades of death are examined, occasionally with a wry and backwards glance and occasionally through gut-wrenching horror.
The end of a beautiful relationship, or maybe one that had run its course. An abusive step-father, the passing of a much-loved grandmother, or a terrifying zombie apocalypse.
Whatever the background, the characters all share that one thing in common. They are sometimes fleetingly touched by death and sometimes carried away on its wings.
Death can be painful, not just for those who suffer it, but for the ones who are left behind. The survivors. The ones who maybe didn’t get what they wanted from their relationship or the failed suicide attempt that leaves them clinging to a life no longer wanted.
And death can be tragic.
In this collection of short stories, Death and Other Things, the many façades of death are examined, occasionally with a wry and backwards glance and occasionally through gut-wrenching horror.
The end of a beautiful relationship, or maybe one that had run its course. An abusive step-father, the passing of a much-loved grandmother, or a terrifying zombie apocalypse.
Whatever the background, the characters all share that one thing in common. They are sometimes fleetingly touched by death and sometimes carried away on its wings.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
August 24, 2011
I don't normally read poetry and I am probably not the best judge of it, but when I saw this gorgeous cover, I was willing to give it a go and I enjoyed it very much. This book of poems is a variety of emotions. There's the poem What I Need. It's a woman telling a man she doesn't want to be his girl, just wants what she needs, but then there's the poem My Last Day, a woman telling her lover that being with him is how she wants to spend her last day and Love's Surprise...
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November 2, 2011
I read back through the collection from time to time. Some of the poems make me happy, others sad but I'm glad I got to share my thoughts and feelings with the world.
November 29, 2011
A Black Girl’s Poetry for the World by Kimberly LaRocca is a thoroughly enjoyable book. The poetry in the book is emotive and expressive, delving into tangled subjects, and the author has separated her verse into two themed sections, Love and Life.
The poems in the first half, Love, are a diverse, frank and raw examination of affection, sex, commitment, and love gone sour and they run a gamut of emotional depth. The author doesn’t shy away from a candid message in her poetry, while still delivering visceral, authentic beauty in verse.
The second part, Life, is a mix of some lovely faith based poetry, shining insight on the power and shape of belief, with affecting musings on emotional pain, tragic circumstance, inner strength, the complexity of relationships and the meaning in life.
The book is full of intriguing poems and some of my favourites are Thanks to You, Terminal Love and The Long Road Home, all rich in depth and word craft. A Black Girl’s Poetry for the World is a wonderful volume of poetry both communal and personal, an intimate glimpse into a poet’s soul.
The poems in the first half, Love, are a diverse, frank and raw examination of affection, sex, commitment, and love gone sour and they run a gamut of emotional depth. The author doesn’t shy away from a candid message in her poetry, while still delivering visceral, authentic beauty in verse.
The second part, Life, is a mix of some lovely faith based poetry, shining insight on the power and shape of belief, with affecting musings on emotional pain, tragic circumstance, inner strength, the complexity of relationships and the meaning in life.
The book is full of intriguing poems and some of my favourites are Thanks to You, Terminal Love and The Long Road Home, all rich in depth and word craft. A Black Girl’s Poetry for the World is a wonderful volume of poetry both communal and personal, an intimate glimpse into a poet’s soul.
November 23, 2011
I don't usually buy poetry but decided to give this a try based on a recommendation.
This book is very readable, and is simplistic in many ways which I like to see.
It lets you in, and that is important.
Many emotions within these pages, a particular favourite is 'Don't Forget Yesterday.'
Rather than trying to be clever, Kimberly's view of events in her life as she sees them
and descibes them in her own contemporary way works for me.
I hope to read more of her work.
Enjoyable and recommended.
This book is very readable, and is simplistic in many ways which I like to see.
It lets you in, and that is important.
Many emotions within these pages, a particular favourite is 'Don't Forget Yesterday.'
Rather than trying to be clever, Kimberly's view of events in her life as she sees them
and descibes them in her own contemporary way works for me.
I hope to read more of her work.
Enjoyable and recommended.
October 16, 2011
“A Black Girl’s Poetry for the World” by Kimberly LaRocca is a collection of insightful poems addressing many levels of the human existence, from pain, to love, and to everyday living. What I really enjoyed are the large messages delivered by so few, easy to read lines, and minimizing of clichés. I recommend this to anyone that either reads poetry often, or to novel-readers looking for a romp into creativity that’s refreshing and inspirational. Five Stars!
January 7, 2012
A Black Girl's Poetry for the World by Kimberly LaRocca
Release Date: April 13th, 2011
Publisher: CreateSpace
Page Count: 123
Source: Directly from author for review
Kimberly LaRocca knows all about challenges, the ones we can’t control, and those we create. She also knows about standing tall and staying proud, no matter what.
While celebrating self-determination and human pride, A Black Girl’s Poetry for the World also presents insightful poems exploring all aspects of the human experience. From lost loves, strained relationships and the difficulty of forgiveness to raw anger and intense sexual desire, LaRocca ‘tells it like it is’ and literally bares her soul in her poetry.
What Stephanie Thinks: The intimacy of this collection of poems -- on the life, love, and losses of Kimberly LaRocca -- really puts a memorable touch on it. Narrated often in the second person, her carefully spun words really jar the reader and show them not only the trials and tribulations of her life, but more importantly, that she's overcome all of them and has emerged as the strong, radiant woman she is today.
As poetry, however, it falls a little flat. Vocabulary is simple and figurative language is mediocre, so there isn't much of a extraordinary value to the words. Everything written is very honest and raw, though, so that makes it really personal and relatable. The wording is sometimes awkward, and some metres have ill-fitting word choices for the sake of rhyming patterns. I cannot stress enough that rhyming does not make for good poetry. Sometimes it can even take away. But I'm not the author, so I have no place to dictate; I'm just saying the poetry would have flown a lot more naturally had it not been forced to rhyme.
I like how the poems (each no more than eight stanzas, or one page) come together to make up the "autobiography" of LaRocca. Of course, nothing is ever clear-cut and as poetry, her life story is open to interpretation, but the basic foundation the reader gets is pretty solid. I wouldn't say this collection of poems is anything phenomenal, but it sure is a frank, sassy, easy read that demonstrates the value of being able to hold one's head high even after a heartbreak, as well as the value of learning to dance in the rain after the storm.
Stephanie Loves: At one point, we all get fed up with a lost love, fed up with constantly caring and being the one who gets hurt, so we become determined to make them feel in every which way, as if they're the one who lost something good. LaRocca describes this emotion perfectly in A Love Like Mine:
"You're gonna miss me when I'm gone.
Miss what we had,
The way I kissed you late at night.
You're gonna miss me so damn bad.
You say you don't care,
That there are many more like me.
I really hope you find her soon,
So you can finally see.
Yeah, you think you know it all,
Thing it's all a big game.
But time will tell,
And your heart will know
She and I aren't the same.
Go ahead.
Make your move.
And please, hold your breath
Until she loves you like I do."-- it's like this: I am the best he has ever had (and will ever have), but he won't know it til I'm gone. Appeasing in a really bitchy, determined way. I like that sort of power trip (because 100% of the time, he's the one who comes running back anyway).
Radical Rating: 6 hearts- Satisfying for a first read, but I'm not going back.
Release Date: April 13th, 2011
Publisher: CreateSpace
Page Count: 123
Source: Directly from author for review
Kimberly LaRocca knows all about challenges, the ones we can’t control, and those we create. She also knows about standing tall and staying proud, no matter what.
While celebrating self-determination and human pride, A Black Girl’s Poetry for the World also presents insightful poems exploring all aspects of the human experience. From lost loves, strained relationships and the difficulty of forgiveness to raw anger and intense sexual desire, LaRocca ‘tells it like it is’ and literally bares her soul in her poetry.
What Stephanie Thinks: The intimacy of this collection of poems -- on the life, love, and losses of Kimberly LaRocca -- really puts a memorable touch on it. Narrated often in the second person, her carefully spun words really jar the reader and show them not only the trials and tribulations of her life, but more importantly, that she's overcome all of them and has emerged as the strong, radiant woman she is today.
As poetry, however, it falls a little flat. Vocabulary is simple and figurative language is mediocre, so there isn't much of a extraordinary value to the words. Everything written is very honest and raw, though, so that makes it really personal and relatable. The wording is sometimes awkward, and some metres have ill-fitting word choices for the sake of rhyming patterns. I cannot stress enough that rhyming does not make for good poetry. Sometimes it can even take away. But I'm not the author, so I have no place to dictate; I'm just saying the poetry would have flown a lot more naturally had it not been forced to rhyme.
I like how the poems (each no more than eight stanzas, or one page) come together to make up the "autobiography" of LaRocca. Of course, nothing is ever clear-cut and as poetry, her life story is open to interpretation, but the basic foundation the reader gets is pretty solid. I wouldn't say this collection of poems is anything phenomenal, but it sure is a frank, sassy, easy read that demonstrates the value of being able to hold one's head high even after a heartbreak, as well as the value of learning to dance in the rain after the storm.
Stephanie Loves: At one point, we all get fed up with a lost love, fed up with constantly caring and being the one who gets hurt, so we become determined to make them feel in every which way, as if they're the one who lost something good. LaRocca describes this emotion perfectly in A Love Like Mine:
"You're gonna miss me when I'm gone.
Miss what we had,
The way I kissed you late at night.
You're gonna miss me so damn bad.
You say you don't care,
That there are many more like me.
I really hope you find her soon,
So you can finally see.
Yeah, you think you know it all,
Thing it's all a big game.
But time will tell,
And your heart will know
She and I aren't the same.
Go ahead.
Make your move.
And please, hold your breath
Until she loves you like I do."-- it's like this: I am the best he has ever had (and will ever have), but he won't know it til I'm gone. Appeasing in a really bitchy, determined way. I like that sort of power trip (because 100% of the time, he's the one who comes running back anyway).
Radical Rating: 6 hearts- Satisfying for a first read, but I'm not going back.
February 26, 2012
"poetry Lives Here" is a poem in this collection, but it could just as well be the title of the book. I can't say that I am finished with this book, but that isn't how poetry collections work anyway, is it now? And This One Works. Everything from the beautiful cover to the poetry inside works so well it looks easy.
She titled it, A Black Girl's Poetry For the World, and even though I am a middle aged white woman who grew up in a town in Wyoming with Native American and Mexican Americans and White Americans and never even knew an African American until I was married and 26, I am still part of "the World" this book is for.
These poems are very human, very much the female life, filled with faith and doubts, hope, fears, joy and pain. It could be the author's journal, or mine or, I suspect almost every woman's.
I love all the poems I have read so far, although some speak more clearly to where I am now,
Let me share a piece of one
From "Nearly Broken"
"My mind said all was lost.
Hope not within my reach.
But the voice inside
said I would rise
And would not concede defeat."
She titled it, A Black Girl's Poetry For the World, and even though I am a middle aged white woman who grew up in a town in Wyoming with Native American and Mexican Americans and White Americans and never even knew an African American until I was married and 26, I am still part of "the World" this book is for.
These poems are very human, very much the female life, filled with faith and doubts, hope, fears, joy and pain. It could be the author's journal, or mine or, I suspect almost every woman's.
I love all the poems I have read so far, although some speak more clearly to where I am now,
Let me share a piece of one
From "Nearly Broken"
"My mind said all was lost.
Hope not within my reach.
But the voice inside
said I would rise
And would not concede defeat."
January 2, 2015
Let me preface this review by saying I am glad I only paid 99 cents for this book. I really wanted so badly to like it. The cover excited me because it is so captivating. But the book failed me in all of the areas in which I expected to be blown away.
First off, the title suggests that the book will be reflective of "black girl" poetry. I found nothing in this book to support this claim. It was a book of poetry. A mediocre one. Nothing was special, intriguing or unique to the experiences of a black girl.
Secondly, as I was reading the book, I felt that I was reading the poetry efforts of a sixth grader. The poetry was basic, elementary and a lot of times it seems as though the writer used words just because they rhymed with the stanza above rather than because they made sense or were appropriate to use at the time. With that said, a lot of what was written in this book did not flow well or make sense.
First off, the title suggests that the book will be reflective of "black girl" poetry. I found nothing in this book to support this claim. It was a book of poetry. A mediocre one. Nothing was special, intriguing or unique to the experiences of a black girl.
Secondly, as I was reading the book, I felt that I was reading the poetry efforts of a sixth grader. The poetry was basic, elementary and a lot of times it seems as though the writer used words just because they rhymed with the stanza above rather than because they made sense or were appropriate to use at the time. With that said, a lot of what was written in this book did not flow well or make sense.
September 20, 2011
Kimberly LaRocca is a very talented and gifted poet. Her poetry is clear, concise, and straightforward. I feel privileged that she asked me to review her book.
This book of heartfelt poetry is divided into two sections: Life, and Love. But it is clear that both are reflected in each of Kimberly’s poems. In fact, her poetry is driven by both life and love. She captures living and shares it in her poetry.
Every poem that Kimberly shares with the reader is written from her experiences, from life and love as she knows them. Her words are well chosen and perfectly arranged, making her poetry accessible. Each situation can almost be felt and experienced, as poetry should be.
This is a wonderful book of poetry. I will read it again, and often. In fact, I look forward to reading more of Kimberly LaRocca’s poetry in the future. Her book has a permanent place on my poetry shelf.
This book of heartfelt poetry is divided into two sections: Life, and Love. But it is clear that both are reflected in each of Kimberly’s poems. In fact, her poetry is driven by both life and love. She captures living and shares it in her poetry.
Every poem that Kimberly shares with the reader is written from her experiences, from life and love as she knows them. Her words are well chosen and perfectly arranged, making her poetry accessible. Each situation can almost be felt and experienced, as poetry should be.
This is a wonderful book of poetry. I will read it again, and often. In fact, I look forward to reading more of Kimberly LaRocca’s poetry in the future. Her book has a permanent place on my poetry shelf.
September 19, 2011
I don't usually purchase poetry books because I tend to read poetry only when I am in the mood for it. I received this book when the author asked me if I would like to review it. I did not write a review immediately after reading it. The reason being is that I like to see how much I will go back to it before I recommend a poetry book. I have gone back multiple times. The author write from experience and she writes with emotion. You feel it as you read it. I could relate in some way to almost every poem in this book. I have marked many of the poems as favorites. I recommend A Black Girl's Poetry for the World. More can be found on my blog www.alaskanbookcafe.com.
August 25, 2012
I really like this book of poetry. I believe anyone who reads this book will definitely find poems that they can relate too. In addition, this book has a spectacular cover. I have been keeping this book by my bedside and reading over the poems every night. The poem "Poetry Lives Here" really captures my heart because I can definitely relate to it and "Knowing My Worth" is also one of my favorites.
August 8, 2011
Kimberly is a fantastic writer full of love and emotion!
May 29, 2017
Poetry from the POV of a women of African descent but nothing more than a women sharing her views through the art of poetry.
"PRETTY FOR A BLACK GIRL You’re pretty for a black girl. Such condescending words! As if the fact that I am black Lessens my worth. You’re pretty for a black girl. Am I supposed to smile, Ignore the ignorance of your statement? Should I really be proud? You’re pretty for a black girl. What does that mean? Can being pretty and black Co-exist for me? You’re pretty for a black girl. Thank you for letting me know. Too bad you don’t recognize That I am so much more."
"PRETTY FOR A BLACK GIRL You’re pretty for a black girl. Such condescending words! As if the fact that I am black Lessens my worth. You’re pretty for a black girl. Am I supposed to smile, Ignore the ignorance of your statement? Should I really be proud? You’re pretty for a black girl. What does that mean? Can being pretty and black Co-exist for me? You’re pretty for a black girl. Thank you for letting me know. Too bad you don’t recognize That I am so much more."
January 13, 2018
Food for the Mind
The poems were good and thought provoking. Some of the pieces made me think of situations where I could have recited one as a comeback from a statement. Some of the poems read a bit incomplete. If you like poetry, you will enjoy this book.
The poems were good and thought provoking. Some of the pieces made me think of situations where I could have recited one as a comeback from a statement. Some of the poems read a bit incomplete. If you like poetry, you will enjoy this book.
April 21, 2019
It will never be easy saying I love, or perhaps it just is.
Most poems I read and loved... others, I didn't, too stubborn to admit those ones told a story of love too, but that's my fault not the author... so I recommend this book to others
Poetry lovers or not.
Most poems I read and loved... others, I didn't, too stubborn to admit those ones told a story of love too, but that's my fault not the author... so I recommend this book to others
Poetry lovers or not.
January 7, 2020
Amazing
This book was amazing. It made you think and see things differently. I would recommend this book for anyone that loves poetry.
This book was amazing. It made you think and see things differently. I would recommend this book for anyone that loves poetry.
August 29, 2024
Why change for someone who /
doesn’t give a damn
Some good, raw poems here 🌎
doesn’t give a damn
Some good, raw poems here 🌎
May 13, 2012
Description:
A Black Girl's Poetry for the World is a collection of 123 poems about life, love and everything in between, written by Kimberly LaRocca – mother, poet, author and songwriter.
Review:
I love poetry, whether it comes as rhyming stanzas or as simple verse, so when I read about A Black Girl's Poetry for the World by Kimberly LaRocca, I knew what I wanted to read next. First-off, the cover is gorgeous, I love the colors, the font and the side profile – they allow the outside of the book to encapsulate the depth and richness contained within Kimberly's poetry. The poems move in an almost autobiographical fashion, each one packed with emotion. Savoring each poem, I felt love, bitterness, fear, lust, indecision, pain, defeat, acceptance, anger, faith and a host of other emotions that all readers can relate to. I have not found a poem I do not enjoy, but my favorites are: A Call to Arms, Why Don't You See Me, Dance With Me Tonight, Searching, A Poet's Song, True Friends, Of All Beings, and Too Soon. The poems may seem simple, but they speak volumes about the unique complexities of the human condition. I will definitely be reading these poems again, over and over. Highly recommended to all readers, poets or otherwise.
Rating: On the Run (4.5/5)
*** I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
A Black Girl's Poetry for the World is a collection of 123 poems about life, love and everything in between, written by Kimberly LaRocca – mother, poet, author and songwriter.
Review:
I love poetry, whether it comes as rhyming stanzas or as simple verse, so when I read about A Black Girl's Poetry for the World by Kimberly LaRocca, I knew what I wanted to read next. First-off, the cover is gorgeous, I love the colors, the font and the side profile – they allow the outside of the book to encapsulate the depth and richness contained within Kimberly's poetry. The poems move in an almost autobiographical fashion, each one packed with emotion. Savoring each poem, I felt love, bitterness, fear, lust, indecision, pain, defeat, acceptance, anger, faith and a host of other emotions that all readers can relate to. I have not found a poem I do not enjoy, but my favorites are: A Call to Arms, Why Don't You See Me, Dance With Me Tonight, Searching, A Poet's Song, True Friends, Of All Beings, and Too Soon. The poems may seem simple, but they speak volumes about the unique complexities of the human condition. I will definitely be reading these poems again, over and over. Highly recommended to all readers, poets or otherwise.
Rating: On the Run (4.5/5)
*** I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
July 23, 2015
I picked this up because the cover is beautiful. However, I found the poetry to be short, simplistic and too focused on rhyme. I really liked only a few of the pieces. While this poetry is easily relatable it lacks the depth and insight I was hoping for.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews