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mythic blues: sapphic poetry on love and heartbreak
Following up her bestselling collections She Is The Poem and The Lavender Haze , June Bates is back with another book of sapphic poetry. This collection tackles heartbreak, love, and queer identity. It also includes a short retelling of the Hades and Persephone myth.
119 pages, Paperback
Published June 23, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 23, 2023
The minute I realized June Bates had come out with another collection of poetry, I bought it immediately. The Lavender Haze is one of my favorite poetry collections of all time, and She Is The Poem was just as phenomenal.
In this collection, Bates experiments with styles they haven’t before, and it makes for such a wonderful, fanciful, and even tragic compilation. The book starts with some typical instapoetry that guide us into the themes and big points of the book before getting into the deviations that separate this book from her previous two. The first deviation that I noticed was the presence of titled poems are a great addition. I love traditional instapoetry, but when a select few poems have a title, it makes them stand out.
Secondly, this collection has much more activist-centered poems than her last two volumes. She discusses the nature of pride (42, 67), the history of queerness (50), our modern fight for equality (46, 47, 48, 49, 66, 103), infighting (68), queer joy (37, 69), and how poetry relates to queerness (41, 43). Intermixed with these political poems are poems of love and loss, many of which tie in very well with the queer activist themes.
Thirdly, the mythological aspect for which this book is named. Of course, there’s Pomegranate Dream (82), the retelling of Hades and Persephone, but there are also other references to Greek mythology sprinkled throughout the book (9, 21, 27, 28, 32). But Pomegranate Dream does a couple things that I think are extremely fascinating. It uses the extended metaphor to talk about two things: the narrator’s desire and loss, and this relationship that neither person wants to end, but must anyway; as well as the nature of queer people as they are perceived in the media, specifically about young queer love and how it’s viewed as sinful to many in older generations (103). I find it interesting how the retelling is a little ambiguous as to where it starts and ends; there are poems that are obviously relating to the retelling, but others that may or may not be. This ambiguity perpetuates until the end of the book.
Read this book. It’s short, it’s sharp, it’s witty, and it’s powerful. This may be the best June Bates book yet.
In this collection, Bates experiments with styles they haven’t before, and it makes for such a wonderful, fanciful, and even tragic compilation. The book starts with some typical instapoetry that guide us into the themes and big points of the book before getting into the deviations that separate this book from her previous two. The first deviation that I noticed was the presence of titled poems are a great addition. I love traditional instapoetry, but when a select few poems have a title, it makes them stand out.
Secondly, this collection has much more activist-centered poems than her last two volumes. She discusses the nature of pride (42, 67), the history of queerness (50), our modern fight for equality (46, 47, 48, 49, 66, 103), infighting (68), queer joy (37, 69), and how poetry relates to queerness (41, 43). Intermixed with these political poems are poems of love and loss, many of which tie in very well with the queer activist themes.
Thirdly, the mythological aspect for which this book is named. Of course, there’s Pomegranate Dream (82), the retelling of Hades and Persephone, but there are also other references to Greek mythology sprinkled throughout the book (9, 21, 27, 28, 32). But Pomegranate Dream does a couple things that I think are extremely fascinating. It uses the extended metaphor to talk about two things: the narrator’s desire and loss, and this relationship that neither person wants to end, but must anyway; as well as the nature of queer people as they are perceived in the media, specifically about young queer love and how it’s viewed as sinful to many in older generations (103). I find it interesting how the retelling is a little ambiguous as to where it starts and ends; there are poems that are obviously relating to the retelling, but others that may or may not be. This ambiguity perpetuates until the end of the book.
Read this book. It’s short, it’s sharp, it’s witty, and it’s powerful. This may be the best June Bates book yet.
October 21, 2023
EVERY TIME I READ ONE OF BATES’ POETRY BOOKS, MY HEART FEELS LIKE IT IS GOING TO BURST. Then I feel like I want to burst into tears. I don’t know why this author is different from the others.
I have to read it in increments. My body needs time to process every sentence, every word, every letter.
june bates, I love you, but who are you?
I have to read it in increments. My body needs time to process every sentence, every word, every letter.
june bates, I love you, but who are you?
June 1, 2024
Absolutely beautiful poetry, so raw and moving. I read all four of June Bates' poetry books in one sitting, I devoured them and couldn't put them down. I think I'll be re-reading them over and over forevermore.
December 27, 2023
One of the biggest issues I am running into are poetry collections that are either self help books disguised as poetry collections or they are full of one sentence motivation or thoughts. This to me could be poetry to some but I find it lacks a lot of creativity. There were some good poems in here but the emotional connection was not there for me in my opinion due to the lack of creative expansion of said poems. Love the color and the interweaving of Greek myths
December 30, 2024
people died (me)
it hits diffrent when you kin Hades (or Regulus) and you're still waiting for your Persephone (or James)
it hits diffrent when you kin Hades (or Regulus) and you're still waiting for your Persephone (or James)
January 20, 2024
June Bates delivers a collection of poems that feels both deeply personal and universally pride relatable. As you delve into "Mythic Blues," you can't help but identify with the themes it explores, ranging from love and loss to self-discovery and belonging. Bates has a gift for touching the soul's strings with both gentleness and precision, making each poem resonate with an inherent truth to human experience.
Bates's poetry is also characterized by its rich imagery and use of mythology to explore the contemporary condition. The blend of the ancient and the modern creates a resonance that is both timeless and pertinent, allowing readers to find comfort and understanding within the book's pages.
This is a work that deserves to be read with the right soundtrack to enhance its impact, and Taylor Swift's music, with its own rich, emotive narratives, is the perfect accompaniment. Whether you're basking in the nostalgic melodies of "Folklore" or the vibrant storytelling of "1989," or love as “Reputation”, you'll find that Swift's music perfectly complements the poetic experience that Bates offers.
Bates's poetry is also characterized by its rich imagery and use of mythology to explore the contemporary condition. The blend of the ancient and the modern creates a resonance that is both timeless and pertinent, allowing readers to find comfort and understanding within the book's pages.
This is a work that deserves to be read with the right soundtrack to enhance its impact, and Taylor Swift's music, with its own rich, emotive narratives, is the perfect accompaniment. Whether you're basking in the nostalgic melodies of "Folklore" or the vibrant storytelling of "1989," or love as “Reputation”, you'll find that Swift's music perfectly complements the poetic experience that Bates offers.
January 2, 2024
4.75/5
Bates is one of my favorite poets, and while this collection didn't quite hit me in the way that her first 2 did it was still absolutely incredible <3
Bates is one of my favorite poets, and while this collection didn't quite hit me in the way that her first 2 did it was still absolutely incredible <3
January 7, 2024
honestly i wish there was more it was lacking something
June 18, 2024
Looking forward to whatever peakness June cooks up next 🔥
gentle reminder that you’re so loved & valid.
happy pride everyone 🩵
gentle reminder that you’re so loved & valid.
happy pride everyone 🩵
August 24, 2024
i just love the way june bates writes😍 her poetry speaks so loud and i find myself in it more than i ever did in any other poetry💕 loved it!!❤️🩹
January 5, 2025
read with gf, was so good
August 27, 2025
very beautiful, just like her other poems
muito lindo que nem os outros poemas dela
muito lindo que nem os outros poemas dela
November 30, 2025
Great Sapphic poetry!
July 29, 2024
4 stars
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews