A Conjuring of Dandelions

by A.L. Garcia, Cassandra L. Thompson (editor)

A collection of poetry by A.L. "As far back as I can remember, I have loved dandelions, not only for their beauty, their crudely vibrant nature, their medicinal properties, and the way they dance in the breeze, but also for their capacity to resist and persist past efforts to eliminate them, to reduce their impact on manmade things deemed more valuable like perfect lawns, and other manicured spaces where their specific wild is unwelcome. A Conjuring of Dandelions is rooted in that spirit, that hope, and the yearning to sow my own seeds, speak my own truths once more, and maybe inspire a few unkempt roads to freedom, as dandelions do."

87 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 21, 2023

Reviews

[m.t_spaces · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful. Full of passion and honest prose. Garcia’s words are aggressive but not violently so. They hit with the force of humanity and all its longings. Garcia goes through a sort of evolution in revolution throughout the pages, and it makes you want to follow her through her depths and fight through all battles with her. I highlighted and bookmarked so many pages so I wouldn’t forget the pieces that gripped me. A CONJURING OF DANDELIONS has its own pulse, and Garcia won’t let you forget it.

[K.R. Wieland · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the very start it’s clear that Garcia will be bring the same rich language and depth of emotions that she brings to all her work. It will make you want to cry. It will make you want to dance. It will make you want to read it all again.

[Michael Benavidez · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first read of the year and my first review in a long while!

I’ve read this twice.
Once was a fast pace read, soaking in the words A.L Garcia has poured, spilled, and bled onto the pages, just letting the imagery sweep over me. The second was slower, letting the messages really just linger with me.
It was in that second read through that you start to notice recurring motifs, imagery, metaphors and the like. While she may pass through these several times, it never feels like repetition. It feels like getting a deeper meaning, like reading a scrape in one poem, and her cutting it deeper for us to really see why this soon to be scar will be meaningful.
And I will admit bias to her work. I read her earlier book, Broken Heart Mosiacs, and fell in love with it. And since then have followed her almost religiously, almost cultlike, or in her words: like the horde.
The benefit to following her and then reading this collection, is that you really get to understand a lot of her personality and just eccentricity that seems to have been shackled and is not set free. It really makes me admire her more. And i say that as the biggest compliment.
In terms of her writing, I’ll be frank again and admit as I have before, that I don’t really know too much about poetry. I know what I like to read, and I loved reading this. Again, i read it twice.
The poetry here is set in verse, it’s set as haiku, and some are just train of thought long format writing, that were probably my favorite.
The word play, the imagery, oh the fucking imagery. If her words don’t evoke emotion from you, then I don’t know what to tell you. It genuinely is a wonderful collection that tells a very intimate story, and that story can be left interpreted to the reader. While i do think that there’s probably an explicit throughline, a very intimate look at a life that she’s baring to us, i think it can also be interpreted by the reader in ways that we relate to in our own lives and thoughts.

5/5 stars

[Lize Du Toit · Rating 5 out of 5]

In every woman lives a girl. That wild, uninhibited sprite, who wishes only to dance, to move, to sing, to live. And because she is young, uncultured, and unbehaved, she is made to sit and keep quiet, whether by the voices that echo a strict mother and father, by society, or by the woman she herself has become. Alma Garcia’s poetry collection captures something essential of this tightrope that women walk between restriction and freedom, and the shame and loneliness that we carry behind the masks we wear to survive a doctrine of being ‘less’, of toning down our imaginations and our bodies.

Armed with terminology that smack of an epic battle between nature vs nurture, with a lexicon of flowers, oceans, the moon, earth and soil, juxtaposed with those imperial signifiers of swords and armour, war and violence, Garcia draws the reader into this private struggle of womankind to quiet not only the cruel voice of our ancestors, but our own mimicry thereof. Because we talk to ourselves the way we were talked to by those who were supposed to love us but caged us instead.

Divided into three parts, Alma’s poetry guides us along a journey of despair and confrontation, edging ever closer to that dawn of healing and freedom, and we witness those junctures in which the poet steels herself against hurt, raging against it like a true Joan of Arc. Forsaken by a society meant to inspire and encourage her wildness, she finds an abiding kinship in Mother Nature, relishing Gaia’s every small gift and swallowing her wisdom. And in this affinity, the poet finds herself.

A Conjuring of Dandelions left me with an immense hope and a determination to live madly despite those conditioned impulses to quiet the wild girl inside. A captivating collection of poems by an equally captivating soul.

Personal favourites: I Do Not Pray To Gods; I Can Be Soil.

[Lana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A.L. Garcia's "A Conjuring of Dandelions" serves as a manifesto for flourishing in the aftermath of trauma, but don't expect a garden of roses. Instead, Garcia crafts a narrative where resilience is begrudgingly earned amidst the wreckage of neglect and
abuse.

Dandelions, often dismissed as weeds, become a symbol of Garcia's tenacity and strength, embodying her relentless will to thrive against the odds.

Through her words, she paints a picture of survival in inhospitable
soil, where beauty emerges from the cracks of desolation. In "Dancing in My Room" and "Untitled 4," Garcia delves into the intricate choreography of healing, revealing the messy, raw journey of reclaiming one's sense of self. These verses don't sugarcoat the pain; instead, they acknowledge the struggle while fiercely championing the human capacity for resilience and renewal.

This collection is a intimate look at personal darkness, at times it feels like we're looking into Garcia's private diary.  Hand in hand she takes us with her as she finds solace in her own strength. "A Conjuring of Dandelions" is a battle cry for authenticity and self-empowerment, urging readers to embrace their scars and stand tall amidst the rubble of their pasts.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've tried on and off for years to get into poetry, with mixed results. I recently clicked with Sylvia Plath, and was drawn to this book by the favorable comparison. It's a fair comparison, but Garcia definitely has a voice of her own. The words are sharpened with purpose, and the poetry ranges from cutting to inspiring, gutting to beautiful. Garcia's imagery is evocative.

There are a few prose poems in this collection. I have a rough time with prose poetry because I don't always understand what sets it apart from prose. But with Garcia's prose poems I feel like I understand the distinction more. Especially after reading them out loud.

Overall, these poems come from a very vulnerable, raw place. You feel as though you're invited into the mind of the poet where she lays bare everything about her. Definitely putting this on my growing poetry section on my bookshelf!

[Taryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read other poetry by Garcia previously, and this one definitely did not disappoint. These poems are so powerful, and hold so much meaning in them. I read each poem slowly, savoring each word as the story slowly unfolded, and I adored every moment of it. Garcia knows how to write poetry and do it well, ensuring the reader feels every emotion. I truly adored this poetry collection, and I highly recommend it to fellow poetry lovers.

[Lisa Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was allowed to read an ARC, and I’m left entranced, enthralled, and everlastingly contemplative. Garcia’s somber tone simultaneously captures and belies the depth of emotion her words evoke. These pages are full of sighs, of wishes, of memories, dreams, and prayers - sacred and profane, resigned and quietly desperate, and all beautifully expressed.

[Sophie Brookes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply gorgeous! A Conjuring of Dandelions is an emotional and raw collection of poetry, tackling everything from trauma, the dichotomy of life and death, and challenging societal cages. Written with hauntingly beautiful ease, I can see myself rereading this one soon.

Highly recommended for any poetry lover!

[Vera West · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping, beautifully chilling collection that had me highlighting favorite lines left and right. Garcia is such a a timeless, dynamic soul and her creativity and dept comes out in her poetry brilliantly.