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Harlem Penthouse: A Book of Poems
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March 29, 2025
Harlem Penthouse is a series of silhouettes of the hopes and dreams of city life in early adulthood, juxtaposing anticipations and expectations with reality—the unromanticisms of the romanticist.
Well written and organic, the pockets of memories and moments of pain or pleasure are written with provocation and evocative intent.
The penthouse itself is a center of culture and purpose while the city envelopes it, sometimes in opposition. Moments from the past linger, following even here, as the city becomes a character acting upon the writer. Poems like “Brick Walls or Windows” epitomize the sacrifices made in pursuit of dreams, while “Blue Collar Baby” further explores the tolls the city life requires.
“The Day After Your Wedding” and “One More Letter to My Ex” reflect on past lovers and the scars they leave behind; what are the things we do to cover or conceal those scars. This collection feels like a novella, a confessional, and a letter to one’s former self all at once.
“Mommy Issues” brings up traumatic pasts and family differences, capturing the moment we begin to separate our own standards from those learned and adopted. “Fernando” portrays the allure of a toxic precipice, while “Photo Dump” and “Lonely One” delve into the psychological consequences of a generation forced to navigate a world obsessed with vanity and triviality.
Poems like “When I Drink” reflect on formative years and the intertwined interactions that shape the new life we establish for ourselves. “The Feeling Good Poem” serves as a synthesis, an overture of resilience and presence within the penthouse.
Harlem Penthouse is a personal and transparent collection, capturing the highs and lows of finding one’s place within their independence and navigating the pursuit of something greater for ourselves in spite of what was — far from what was, there only is; living at the top, the Harlem Penthouse.
Well written and organic, the pockets of memories and moments of pain or pleasure are written with provocation and evocative intent.
The penthouse itself is a center of culture and purpose while the city envelopes it, sometimes in opposition. Moments from the past linger, following even here, as the city becomes a character acting upon the writer. Poems like “Brick Walls or Windows” epitomize the sacrifices made in pursuit of dreams, while “Blue Collar Baby” further explores the tolls the city life requires.
“The Day After Your Wedding” and “One More Letter to My Ex” reflect on past lovers and the scars they leave behind; what are the things we do to cover or conceal those scars. This collection feels like a novella, a confessional, and a letter to one’s former self all at once.
“Mommy Issues” brings up traumatic pasts and family differences, capturing the moment we begin to separate our own standards from those learned and adopted. “Fernando” portrays the allure of a toxic precipice, while “Photo Dump” and “Lonely One” delve into the psychological consequences of a generation forced to navigate a world obsessed with vanity and triviality.
Poems like “When I Drink” reflect on formative years and the intertwined interactions that shape the new life we establish for ourselves. “The Feeling Good Poem” serves as a synthesis, an overture of resilience and presence within the penthouse.
Harlem Penthouse is a personal and transparent collection, capturing the highs and lows of finding one’s place within their independence and navigating the pursuit of something greater for ourselves in spite of what was — far from what was, there only is; living at the top, the Harlem Penthouse.
Displaying 1 of 1 review