Lullaby for the Grieving

by Ashley M Jones

Genres: Poetry

64 pages, Paperback

Published September 16, 2025

Reviews

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so thankful for Ashley M. Jones's voice. This book is an elegy for a grieving poet, family, state, region, and country. In between her gorgeous interludes mourning death of her father, she includes poems that mourn the state of Alabama, the South, and the United States as a whole, bringing social issues with honesty, urgency, and tenacity to the forefront without once sacrificing her contagious hope and joy. It is so easy to be discouraged by division, but Ashley's poems unify.

[Tya C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most beautiful poetry collections I’ve ever read. I was immediately drawn in by the beautiful cover, and the title. As someone currently grieving the death of my grandmother, I read this at the perfect time. So much emotion radiated off of the page ranging from complete sadness to total love, admiration, and joy. I loved reading about the author’s father. He sounds like such a great man. I hope to one day experience the love that her parents had. I read this at the perfect time, but I’d recommend it to any and everyone, not just those that are grieving. I’m excited to read more by Ashley M. Jones in the future.

[Pamela Avila · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the publisher and devoured this short poetry collection. It’s lovely, moving and heartbreaking. Ashley M. Jones puts on display the never ending grief she feels over the loss of her father but also writes of the political grief tied to Black southern identity. The personal is political in this author’s fourth collection.

[Sonja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great poetry. Thank you Ashley M Jones!
Poems entitled “Portrait of Harriet”, “Snow Poem” “Imagine Us, In Love with the World”

A few lines I liked:
“Stop talking about the South. As long as you South of the Canada border
you South.”

“I haven’t been myself for three years.”

“Somewhere
I insisted on being born.”