Here

by Darlene Young

Darlene Young’s Here is a hymn to “this jumblesale world,” a journey into middle-aged motherhood, into empty nesting, into God. While a youngest son is on the cusp of manhood, and a mother who worries if she’s done enough to prepare him for life, God shows up each morning as dance partner and “jerks / his head meaningfully towards the dance floor.” Her a “hell yes.” The voice in these poems is often playful and laced with refreshing snark, such as when she says no to addressing God as “Thou” instead of “You” in her prayers. Other times the speaker’s voice is earnest-honest, such as when she considers her heartbreak over her son’s “Either way, / it’s you with your hand outstretched, / longing.” Here is hyper-aware of the moment, ultra-attentive to the now—at the cusp of letting grown children go, noting the body’s slow fumble into age—we’re reminded that all we have is fleeting, temporary, and therefore incredibly precious. We are gently transformed.
—Dayna Patterson, author of O Lady, Speak Again

Genres: Poetry, Lds

110 pages, Paperback

Published April 6, 2023

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

My initial review of this was snotty. I own that. I was in pain and like anyone in too much pain, I too easily lashed out at the undeserving.

A man never steps in the same river twice (not the same waters, not the same man). Stepping into these poems a second time, a third, the water was sweet and cool and soothing. The water understood my anger and let it flow away, as all flowing water does.

[LuAnne Banks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous, real poetry that speaks of aging, almost empty nest, God. I’ll let the poet speak for herself.

Selections from her poem
“I Explain Middle Age to my Forbears Who Died Young”

“Dear Mama and Grandma,
I transcribe your losses.

Older children who call over their shoulders
aa they leave, or surprise you
by presenting a cheek for a kiss.
The gentle hands of a long-time lover
and his tender new wrinkles.
The creeping, sore-muscled joy of knowing
you’ve been taken to the dance, whirled and dined—
the whole shebang.

Let’s tally it up. You’ve lost
nothing, and
the whole world.”

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

Young is an absolute delight to read— honest, funny, mundane, and holy. What I hope for in poetry

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed these poems about motherhood and middle age. I like Darlene's honesty and self-awareness.

[Phoebe Joylene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here is by far one of the best books of poetry I’ve ever read. Darlene Young is able to illustrate the complexities of being a Latter-day Saint in a thoughtful and compelling way that’s accessible and approachable for even readers unfamiliar with poetry. The way she weaves the gospel into her writing is beautiful. Lines from certain poems still come to my mind on occasion and I’ll definitely be rereading this again shortly. 

Perhaps my favorite poem from the collection is A Plan of Salvation. I’ve pulled this one out more than once to read to friends and usually, when I’m done, they ask me to read it again. Honestly, I didn’t know that poems could twist like that and it’s one of the best pieces of LDS literature that I’ve ever read. This may just be me fangirling, but I feel like the book was worth the purchase just for that one poem. Other standouts include Tower of Babel, The Young Men Go River Rafting for a Week, and the four in the Lone and Dreary series. Darlene truly understands how to liken the scriptures unto herself and her reader. 

If you’re interested in dipping your toe into some poetry, this would be a good place to start. Her work is great for beginners and there’s a fair variety of subject matter, so if one poem doesn’t really resonate with you, others almost certainly will. Most of her poems work for me, but I do think it’s important to know going into it that a decent number of them deal with motherhood and aging. They’re well done and they don’t feel cheap or sappy, but if you aren’t interested in reading about that, this probably isn’t the collection for you, but otherwise, I can’t recommend it enough. 

[Lora · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. It hits the here and now in painful sweet clarity that speaks to my soul.

[Kaitlin Huntington · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite poem was Mother’s Day.
But there were lots that I enjoyed- a fun way to reflect on relationships and motherhood

[Meredith Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 for this gorgeous, relatable book of poetry.

[Shawn Tucker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I sat down the other night to read Darlene Young’s new collection of poems Here. Each poem features Young’s distinctive poetic voice, a voice that is by turns wistful and grateful, self-deprecating and self-affirming, descriptive of life’s messiness, and shot through with faith in making peace with that disorder. Many of the poems speak about experiences I share with the poet of being at that stage of life where everyone looks older, especially your children, but you still have the same young heart. Some poems will find their way into sacrament talks or Sunday School lessons, especially if the topic is agency (see “A Plan of Salvation”) or Adam and Eve (see the “Lone and Dreary” poems). Young offers what I expect of great poetry—she gives new insights and life into everyday objects and experiences.

[Rob McFarland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darlene Young has a way of peering into the tumble of our everyday lives, making delightful, insightful patterns out of the chaotic jumble of the mundane, the heart-wrenching, and the joyful moments in between. If you are not a poetry person, start here. These are not the tortured, navel-gazing linguistic reveries that are feted by the Great and Powerful. These poems bring good poetics back to real life, language mobilised in the service of the truly quotidian (motherhood, wash-cycle and teen-braces quotidian, not some apple on a wooden bench in the Hamptons quotidian). I loved this collection, but then again I love this kind of poetry, the kind that makes today feel heroic.

[Cheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

HERE is so aptly titled. Here, in a particular moment and place, is where life happens — mothering (“He has a whole universe I will never know about”), aging (hoist and stagger, jostle and jounce”), trying to tune into God (“I niggle and fret in search of the frequency”). Here is what Darlene Young knows exactly how to capture with a just-right word, a surprising image that’s perfect in its messiness.

[rcrockett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve reread some of her poems over and over again. Darlene has such a gift with words, it feels as if she’s pulling emotions right out of you, connecting with you at the very core. Thank you Darlene for sharing your work. It is truly beautiful.

[Emma Freestone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Made me believe in poetry and the beauty of life and God.

[Tari · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’d like to give this book 4 1/2. Some poems were 5 stars some were 4 but all were thought provoking and real. I loved the honesty in her poetry. And the way each poem made me feel something.

[Janet Purser · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed it more when I attended an event where the author read her poetry than when I was reading it. Probably more of a reflection on myself than the author.

[Kelli Dougal · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic and relatable collection of poetry from an LDS poet. I love the way she uses words. Many of the poems are about middle age and becoming an empty nester, which I can’t quite relate to *yet*, but I loved reading the way she described them. My favorites were her series of poems about Eve as she discovers hard things after leaving the Garden of Eden. Reading this made me yearn to start writing poetry again ♥️

[Tessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this very accessible book of poetry. The poet has a way of making the everyday holy.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first heard about this poetry book on the Faith Matters podcast in an episode about finding beauty in the mundane. I thought the poems in this book were insightful and lovely, especially when they felt like they were meeting me at the exact stage of life that I’m in. A few favorite poems were “My Son in the Kitchen After School”, “Learner’s Permit”, “A Plan of Salvation”, and “Mother’s Day in the Spirit World”.