Free Stallion: Poems

by Amber Tamblyn, Jack Hirschman (Foreword)

Although Amber Tamblyn is best known as the star of the smash hit Joan of Arcadia, she is a serious poet, mentored by Jack Hirshman, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, and other San Francisco Beat poets. She has self-published two chapbooks, and her poems have appeared in books published by City Lights. Here is her first collection of poems specifically for teens. The poems relate to teen issues such as love and relationships, and all are influenced by Amber's feminist sensibility. An introduction by Jack Hirshman puts her poetry in a literary context, and her personal introduction gives insight into her poems and helps readers access them. Amber's celebrity will help bring the value of poetry to a new, wider audience.

Genres: Poetry, Nonfiction

98 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 23, 2005

About the author

Amber Tamblyn is an author, actor, and director. She's been nominated for an Emmy, Golden Globe, and Independent Spirit Award for her work in television and film, including House M.D. and Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Most recently, she wrote and directed the feature film Paint It Black. She is the author of three books of poetry, including the critically acclaimed bestseller Dark Sparkler, and a novel, Any Man, as well as a contributing writer for the New York Times. She lives in New York.

Reviews

[Robert Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

GIRL STANDING CENTER STAGE
(Reflections on Free Stallion)

Yes
No
I don't know
Moments of comprehension
I don't understand
looks of clarity.

Obvious reasons
there aren't any
deep personal meaning
only one knows why
not for me
but I try

A young girl knows why
sees the light
here's the last beat of
the dying heart

Not for me to know
but for you to find out.
Why is she laughing
like an old grey mare?
She ain't what she used to pretend to be

She knows why
god (small g) rest her soul
Rest in the center of
the square and compass
How do I even pretend to know?
This is me
So mote it be

-Robert Davis

[Karol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought Free Stallion because I am a fan of Amber’s acting abilities. Writing is so personal. I was interested in hearing her voice. I expected to be impressed and was by her strong vision and intellect.

[R.]

Mountain View Sketch No.2


The movie set
is bustling,
and Mr.Lynch
tells my father
to not bother
with continuity.

Not bother?
Continuity is
the definition of
a father!

I want to scream this
into Mr.Lynch's face.

Scream, scream and scream.
Like a child wild
and blind with its first pain.
Of birth, or of falling from
a bicycle to the earth.

The span of a bandage
across a scratched knee
must reach over the
bruise and the blood.
Or else it's not a bandage
but a strip of tape,
loose with a hundred Donald Ducks,
Plutos smiling over my pain.

But Mr.Lynch is surrounded
by those low madchens
of a thousand failed
matinees.
So I hold back the scream
carefully, like a moth
injured by drop
of rain.

So I tell myself, "Breathe Amber,
and remember: he is an actor.
And the only continuity
that matters
is a home life
far away
when the shooting season ends
away from the leer
of Mr.McLachlan."

And Mr.Lynch says, "And...action."

A Biography of Jack Nance: The Later Years

I. Comeback role

There was a fish
in the percolator.

II. Please come back with a jellyroll

There were hoodlums
at the donut shop.

[Richard Gartee · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is good to know that the future of poetry is in Amber Tamlyn’s hands. Free Stallion, was her first published collection of poems (or the first that I knew of). As soon as I read a few poems it became apparent that she is a poet not a pretender. She opens herself in her verse and lets her vulnerability show through, then turns political in the next poem and lets us know where she sees injustice or inequality.
And equally, she champions the cause of poetry as founder and supporter of the Write Now Poetry Society.
I like this book so well, that as soon as her next one, Bang Ditto, was announced I ordered it.

[Brendan]

Rating: 3 1/2

Back cover blurbs from Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Michael McClure. Foreword by Jack Hirschman. Introduction by Tamblyn. Topics include lovers, her mother, and sociopolitical issues. A poem each on Woody Guthrie and Thelonious Monk.

My favorite is "Sneaker".

Having just recently taken a woman's form,
damn proud,
yes, this ass is mine.
- "Pipe Dreams"

I consider myself flexible in awkward positions.
Not a home wrecker,
but I do knock.
- "Moths"

a bottle of jack and the night is a coward
coming
going
kissing and telling
- "Free Stallion"

[Doofenshmirtz · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't know anything about poetry, but the two things I like about poetry are the imagery and the precise word choice. In this book, Amber tends to tell rather than to show (resulting in no imagery), and she often relies on funky structure and word play (rather than precise word choice) to drive home her point. I also find many of the subjects she's written about cliche, and to be honest she comes across as pretentious rather than genuinely concerned about world problems.

[Katt Hansen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes I'm just not sure how to rate things or even what to say here in this space. I feel like singing and dancing poetry but I don't have the skill with words and imagery that is required when talking about a true poet.

Is this the best I've read? No. But not the worst. Middling poetry, at times pretentious, at times heart stopping. So I fall in between and call it good enough, though I doubt I've really defined this at all.

[Matt Randall · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tamblyn's poetry is so-so. A lot of it seems more suited to being performed than being read. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it wasn't what I got. Still, her poetry does have some interesting insights into her life.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a hard time really getting into poetry, but I knew of Amber Tamblyn from Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. So I thought it would be worth my time.

Some poems I didn't get, but I have a few favorites:
-Pipe Dreams
-A Valid Question Ensues Unstitched
-Paper Tiger

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been a fan of amber's for a very long time. And her poetry is just as a mazing as her acting. Her writing also influences some of my writing as well.

[Sydney Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

My mother bought this for me while I was in middle school, and it was so great to have then. Wonderful stuff.

[Brianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars.

[Deanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Her poetry inspires me to keep writing. She has such a raw and unapologizing way of expressing her deepest emotions. I look up to her and her writing.

[Casey · Rating 2 out of 5]

this was kind of a boring book, i'll admit, not what i expected from Amber Tamblyn, though the poetry was good

[Bill Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cam someone ever really review someone's poetry? Poetry is personal, subjective,, a little madcap, occasionally marks tje passing of something or someone important.

Some of these interested me greatly, what was said, or just implied.

Amber Tamblyn keeps evolving, taking on the new, not being choked off by the past. And that is progress. And interesting.

Her best role may end up teaching. But that's God's business, not mine. I'm just glad for her vivid imagination and ways of cracking open the next door.

[Steven R. McEvoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short volume of poetry packs a lot of punch for being just under 100 pages and just 31 poems. Written spanning over 10 years of the author's life, they have a breadth and depth not often seen in authors so young. They are poems written as a mix of self-exploration and in attempts to grasp concepts and capture experiences. Found in these poems, there is often a rawness and vulnerability many authors will not show in their works.

The poems are:
Kill Me So Much
Disguise
Ol' Green Eyes
The Coliseum
Banana
Dig
1 & 2
Numbers
Sink Her
Paper Tiger
What?s the Word
Nocturne for Chopin
Sneaker
The State
A Valid Question Ensues Unstitched
Free Stallion
Plume
Pax Vobiscum
Anna
Beyond the Pale
Dear S.
Vibration
Moths
When
Pipe Dreams
Neu Tour 2003-Greendale Ends
Dear Divinity
Train
Truth About Dark
Celebrate
The Loneliest

This collection is one I will add to my list of poetry to reread every few years. I have read it twice and found that on the second reading I discovered much more about the poems and myself than upon the first reading.

[Lisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Of the 31 poems in this collection, I only connected with three. I know the fault is mine because I don't like reading poems about blood & sex & puking. I STILL LOVE AMBER TAMBLYN'S ACTING TALENT, just to be clear.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better when read outloud.

[Berit Ericson · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't think I liked this as much as I was supposed to? It just wasn't for me. I didn't really like it, honestly.

[Corinne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved this book when I was 22 but think I’ve outgrown it

[Don · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a short series of coming of age poems from Tamblyn. Definitely a thoughtful and interesting read!

[nidah05 (SleepDreamWrite) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was interesting.

[Kaitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do Your Health and Eyes a Favor

There are not many voices that staying stomping in the fabric of my reclusive imagination as Amber Tamblyn's work does.

[Sion · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good poetry and a great first book (way better than mine!).

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was pretty good. Some of the poems were out there, but I was impressed with the majority. Amber Tamblyn rocks.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

this needs to be in my collection

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dear S. was my favorite poem and Pipe Dream was also good.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I adore Amber Tamblyn and her writing. She is so honest and the poems are truly moving.