I Dance with the Dragon: Poems of chronic illness, trauma, faith, and reconciliation with self

by Jacob Harada

158 pages, Paperback

Published November 27, 2025

Reviews

[Sirah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of poems is separated into a few parts. I connected pretty terrifyingly with the first section, which is on the topic of chronic illness. While I've never resented my diagnosis the way some of these poems express, it was hard to read many of them, as they directly touched on my own despair at never quite having the strength to do everything I feel I should. I'm always looking for books with fibromyalgia rep, and this one, though not a perfect match for my own experiences (of course), made me feel very seen nonetheless.

Other parts of this book were hard to read for other reasons. The author touches on topics of burnout and the high expectations religious communities place upon members and the guilt that often comes with not being good enough to be perfect. Toward the end, the author addresses some of the trauma that comes from being in a family whose leaders are so committed to ministry that they don't leave time to be parents. I'm not currently identified with any religion, but this is how I grew up. I recognize the song lyrics and snippets of scripture that pepper this poetry, and it left me wondering if there's any hope outside of the vicious cycle I have experienced inside the church.

I'm disappointed that many of these poems (like so much modern poetry) feel like stream of consciousness more than a precise effort to choose words and sounds to enhance meaning. I appreciated some of the metaphors, but others were weak. I definitely felt a shared experience as I read some of these pieces, so the poetry was doing something right. But I'm still waiting for the poetry volume that takes full advantage of the vastness of poetic style to create something I can't help but admire. I'm not saying you have to study poetry in order to be a poet. But you could.

Thank you to BookSirens and Jacob Harada for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Esther Doerksen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The human experience is diverse, paradoxical, and sacred and Jacob Harada’s newest collection of poems, I Dance with the Dragon: Poems of Chronic Illness, Trauma, Faith and Reconciliation with Self explores the deepest parts of the human person and unearths this resounding truth: the human experience is sacred embodiment. Harada’s real life experiences with chronic illness, trauma, and faith breathe each poem to life as readers are invited to be companions on Harada’s life journey. Like a Psalmist, Harada vulnerably laments his own intimate reality with suffering while carrying a hope of being held by Creator God and in this way, Harada reminds readers no matter what someone’s reality is, Creator God is there with everlasting arms to hold and carry all of humanity. Dragons may be mythological creatures, yet the real diverse range of both personal and universal life experiences of all human beings live and breathe off the pages of Harada’s work, teaching what it means to live as an embodied human being.

[Terry F · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was poetry that I could frequently relate to or sympathize with.

Quite a few poems evoked powerful emotions within me. The poems 'Insecure,' 'The Second Arrow,' and 'If Only' deeply moved me. I also highlighted many lines that spoke to me and wanted the ability to reference them quickly.

I wish I could give this another half-star. I failed to give it five stars only because I found that there were a few poems that I could not find what the poet was attempting to convey. I believe Jacob is still finding his voice in these few poems that failed to reach me. It may also be that this reader is not reading them with the correct emphasis.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Elise Volkman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Dance with the Dragon is a journey of compassion, empathy, and longing for holistic health. Jacob's heart beats on every page of poetry and prose with a fervent desire for healing, in a voice that could be yours or mine — dancing with our dragons together, in our search of healing and wholeness.

[Lola Jansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice collection of tales/poems!

They didn’t all feel like poems, some were more like emotional short stories.

There were 2 that didn’t make a Lot of sense to me story-wise.

I recommend this book for lovers of spiritual poetry and stories

[Himanshi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love poetry! I write too!! And since I have been a reading slump I decided I might as well explore a different genre of poetry.
And honestly what a ride!!
The themes were well crafted.The metaphors, the imagery, everything was threaded in beautifully. I only forgot one simple thing, I was not a Christian 😅 and I know it might sound very narrow opinion but somehow it did affect my experience with the stanzas.
There is a very interesting use of vocabulary and the writing style is thought provoking. I just felt it was too much mention of faith that personally didn't work for me.
Nonetheless, it will be a hit in the target audience. 😅👍

I received this book as an e review copy from Book Sirens and the Author! And I am leaving this review voluntarily!!

[Christina Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

How does someone respond to a work of art that so clearly carries a piece of the writers soul? Jacob Harada has done something truly beautiful, courageous, vulnerable, and hopeful by tearing the veil that so many dealing with depression,  chronic illness, and religious burnout live behind. He offers the reader hope as he earnestly shares his own story with all the authenticity of one who knows it has been a challenge, but it's not over yet, and neither, dear reader, is yours.