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The Dark Cave Between My Ribs
After disaster, there is always the possibility to love again. Poet Loren Kleinman invites us to witness snapshots of a complex life-including accounts of abuse, grief, suicide, love, and loss-rendered poetic yet accessible. The Dark Cave Between My Ribs appeals to all who crave an authentic voice that is tangible, unique, and universal.
Loren Kleinman's poetry is staring you dead in the face and daring you to blink. Not much so stark, has ever dared to be so cleanly beautiful - the lines crisp, the silences their own loud singing. Nothing lets you look away; lets you be left alone. -Roger Bonair-Agard , Cave Canem fellow , Two-time National Poetry Slam Champion, author of Tarnish and Masquerade-
Loren Kleinman's poems in The Dark Cave Between My Ribs are explorations of love and loss, longing and passion. Kleinman peels away at the scrim we try to hide behind so we don't see our own scars or the scars we have inflicted on the world. Her universe is filled with images of the terrible atrocities of concentration camps as well as the one-on-one betrayal of rape. The poet struggles are often rendered in nightmare landscapes, which she runs through in order to reach some semblance of safety and peace. This book is an amazing achievement. - Maria Mazziotti Gillan , Winner, American Book Award & Barnes & Noble Writers for Writers Award from Poets & Writers-
In this beautiful collection, Loren Kleinman writes about longing and loving, touch and loss, truth, absence, and ultimately, the soul. The poems are moving, the sentiment naked, and the language irresistible. I'm grateful to have been invited to into this writer's mind and heart and world. -Beverly Donofrio, author Riding in Cars with Boys-
Loren Kleinman's The Dark Cave Between My Ribs is as much a keening behind the destructive nature of assault and addiction as it is an instruction for survival itself. These poems build a raw and unflinching collection that travels across the individual lens to the unspeakable human wreckage of Nazi Death Squads in Lithuania. The speaker in these poems refuses to dodge grief, to look away. Instead, she "Somehow, I'll know what to do. /touch the skin of this world. /Peel it back." It is in this stark and brave examination of the physical world that Kleinman reveals a necessary truth for us all. -Sean Nevin, author of Oblivio Gate-
These poems are an intimate look into the heart written with such power. The Dark Cave Between My Ribs is beautiful, sad, intense and will grab the reader and not let go. Loren Kleinman's poems capture the dark side of things that happen in life but yet, show such courage in the writing. "I'm broken winged, a fallen bird on the road" can sum up many of these poems, but that bird survives, rises up and flies. -Gloria Mindock, Editor and Publisher, Červená Barva Press-
Every now and then fate introduces me to a poet whose poetic work captures my attention. Such is the case with regard to poet Loren Kleinman and her new collection of poetry entitled The Dark Cave Between My Ribs . In a world where there is a plethora of published prose poetry, this collection stands out in my mind. I say so because beginning with the first poem, the collection gathers strength, as if a tea kettle filled with water gathering steam. Once the whistle blows, you know you have water ready for tea. I am confident readers of this work will walk away having been emotionally impacted by this collection. More importantly, it feels like it has award-winning quality. That is my hope for this powerful work of poetry by poet Loren Kleinman. -Emmett Wheatfall, author of Bread Widow-
Loren Kleinman's poetry is staring you dead in the face and daring you to blink. Not much so stark, has ever dared to be so cleanly beautiful - the lines crisp, the silences their own loud singing. Nothing lets you look away; lets you be left alone. -Roger Bonair-Agard , Cave Canem fellow , Two-time National Poetry Slam Champion, author of Tarnish and Masquerade-
Loren Kleinman's poems in The Dark Cave Between My Ribs are explorations of love and loss, longing and passion. Kleinman peels away at the scrim we try to hide behind so we don't see our own scars or the scars we have inflicted on the world. Her universe is filled with images of the terrible atrocities of concentration camps as well as the one-on-one betrayal of rape. The poet struggles are often rendered in nightmare landscapes, which she runs through in order to reach some semblance of safety and peace. This book is an amazing achievement. - Maria Mazziotti Gillan , Winner, American Book Award & Barnes & Noble Writers for Writers Award from Poets & Writers-
In this beautiful collection, Loren Kleinman writes about longing and loving, touch and loss, truth, absence, and ultimately, the soul. The poems are moving, the sentiment naked, and the language irresistible. I'm grateful to have been invited to into this writer's mind and heart and world. -Beverly Donofrio, author Riding in Cars with Boys-
Loren Kleinman's The Dark Cave Between My Ribs is as much a keening behind the destructive nature of assault and addiction as it is an instruction for survival itself. These poems build a raw and unflinching collection that travels across the individual lens to the unspeakable human wreckage of Nazi Death Squads in Lithuania. The speaker in these poems refuses to dodge grief, to look away. Instead, she "Somehow, I'll know what to do. /touch the skin of this world. /Peel it back." It is in this stark and brave examination of the physical world that Kleinman reveals a necessary truth for us all. -Sean Nevin, author of Oblivio Gate-
These poems are an intimate look into the heart written with such power. The Dark Cave Between My Ribs is beautiful, sad, intense and will grab the reader and not let go. Loren Kleinman's poems capture the dark side of things that happen in life but yet, show such courage in the writing. "I'm broken winged, a fallen bird on the road" can sum up many of these poems, but that bird survives, rises up and flies. -Gloria Mindock, Editor and Publisher, Červená Barva Press-
Every now and then fate introduces me to a poet whose poetic work captures my attention. Such is the case with regard to poet Loren Kleinman and her new collection of poetry entitled The Dark Cave Between My Ribs . In a world where there is a plethora of published prose poetry, this collection stands out in my mind. I say so because beginning with the first poem, the collection gathers strength, as if a tea kettle filled with water gathering steam. Once the whistle blows, you know you have water ready for tea. I am confident readers of this work will walk away having been emotionally impacted by this collection. More importantly, it feels like it has award-winning quality. That is my hope for this powerful work of poetry by poet Loren Kleinman. -Emmett Wheatfall, author of Bread Widow-
- GenresPoetry
122 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 12, 2014
About the author
Loren Kleinman
16 books117 followersLoren Kleinman's nonfiction has appeared in Ms., The New York Times, The New York Daily News, the Huffington Post, Ploughshares, Cosmopolitan, Redbook, Woman’s Day, Seventeen, Good Housekeeping, BUST, USA Today, The Rumpus and more. She is the editor of the anthology Indie Authors Naked, which was an Amazon Top 100 bestseller in Journalism in the UK and USA. Kleinman’s The Dark Cave Between My Ribs was named one of the best poetry books of 2014 by Entropy Magazine. Her co-edited collection with Amye Archer My Body, My Words (Big Table Publishing), was named one of the “11 New Feminist Books That Could Totally Change Your Year” by Bustle. My Body, My Wordsalso received praise from Hello Giggles, BUST, Pop Sugar, WOW! Women on Writing,The Brooklyn Rail and more. Her short film, Suffering Is the Easy Part, directed and produced by Jaime Ekkens, is distributed by Seed&Spark and Docademia.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 5, 2014
POETRY AS IT SHOULD BE - FRESH AND ACCESSIBLE
I had the pleasure of attending a book reading by Ms. Kleinman, where she shared poetry from The Dark Cave Between My Ribs.
The first thing I noticed was that she was a woman with an easy smile who was approachable and welcoming. Unlike many poets I've met, she did not give off an air of seriousness. It's no wonder that her poetry, though dark at times, is easily accessible.
I read poetry often to find inspiration, and unfortunately, so much of modern-day poetry sounds stilted, as if it's only meant to be understood by literary scholars. This is exactly why I believe poetry intimidates readers. Ms. Kleinman must also know this, as her work is anything but awkward.
We are able to relate to the topics in The Dark Cave Between My Ribs because we've all lived them, or will one day live them. Ms. Kleinman's themes of love and loss, life and family, and my favorite -- redemption touched me in their simplicity, and yet, they are not simple subjects.
One poem in particular "We Still Have Time" struck me as the perfect poem to end the book. It speaks of life and love, and it's about endings. And yet, even as I reread the poem several times, I knew I did not want the book to end. Ms. Kleinman has a unique voice, and her words will continue to stay with you for a very long time.
I had the pleasure of attending a book reading by Ms. Kleinman, where she shared poetry from The Dark Cave Between My Ribs.
The first thing I noticed was that she was a woman with an easy smile who was approachable and welcoming. Unlike many poets I've met, she did not give off an air of seriousness. It's no wonder that her poetry, though dark at times, is easily accessible.
I read poetry often to find inspiration, and unfortunately, so much of modern-day poetry sounds stilted, as if it's only meant to be understood by literary scholars. This is exactly why I believe poetry intimidates readers. Ms. Kleinman must also know this, as her work is anything but awkward.
We are able to relate to the topics in The Dark Cave Between My Ribs because we've all lived them, or will one day live them. Ms. Kleinman's themes of love and loss, life and family, and my favorite -- redemption touched me in their simplicity, and yet, they are not simple subjects.
One poem in particular "We Still Have Time" struck me as the perfect poem to end the book. It speaks of life and love, and it's about endings. And yet, even as I reread the poem several times, I knew I did not want the book to end. Ms. Kleinman has a unique voice, and her words will continue to stay with you for a very long time.
March 26, 2014
In, “The Window I Sleep By,” Loren Kleinman writes, “I’ve never felt more alone/in a world that tells me/you’re not alone.” Hers is an authentic voice, raw, reflective. THE DARK CAVE BETWEEN MY RIBS explores the themes of love and loss with heartbreaking beauty. This collection is one of my new favorites.
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August 31, 2020Beautiful and aching.
July 17, 2014
One of Entropy's 16 Best Poetry Books of 2014
http://entropymag.org/ip-entropys-fav...
http://entropymag.org/ip-entropys-fav...
June 25, 2014
A beautiful, thought-provoking collection.
February 20, 2016
Just yes. She makes her world so strange and yet accessible to the Reader's mind and emotions. It is a collection which makes one ache.
May 12, 2020
poetry is very subjective. there were 4 poems I enjoyed from this book. the rest of them didn’t touch me.
didn’t like: issue with poem title not being bigger than first line of poem (formatting).
liked: table of contents, index of poems, poem titles.
didn’t like: issue with poem title not being bigger than first line of poem (formatting).
liked: table of contents, index of poems, poem titles.
October 25, 2022
قصائد عميقه
لورين هنا تتحدث بلغة الفقد
وعن ذاكرة الماضي
عن الحنين الى مرحله انتهت
لورين هنا تتحدث بلغة الفقد
وعن ذاكرة الماضي
عن الحنين الى مرحله انتهت
August 9, 2016
Rating: 3.5/5
I received a free copy from the author, Loren Kleinman, in exchange for an honest review.
The Dark Cave Between My Ribs is a truly great collection of poems. One reason is that the poems are so relatable. Another reason is that the poems have an authentic voice. This poetry is deep, but really great. Kleinman show us-through the poems-what love and loss truly is.
I received a free copy from the author, Loren Kleinman, in exchange for an honest review.
The Dark Cave Between My Ribs is a truly great collection of poems. One reason is that the poems are so relatable. Another reason is that the poems have an authentic voice. This poetry is deep, but really great. Kleinman show us-through the poems-what love and loss truly is.
“Remembering My Grandmother”
“Everything is cared for.
Everything in its place.”
“At Fifteen”
I wanted to break in half.
Fold like heaven and hell.
I was at war with myself.”
“At Seventeen”
I’m not powerless.
I’m just caught
In the wreckage of my age.”
March 19, 2014
This was a truly great poetry collection. It was like Neruda meets Plath with a huge influence of Franz Wright. I got to be a Beta reader, and it was pleasure. It was one of the most ambitious, refreshing, and legit poetry collections I've read in a long time, dealing with death, sex, abuse, & love-real life issues but not done like an art therapy 'poetry' book or a 1st year thesis of an MFA student...Kleinman is the real deal and this is a five star book.
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May 29, 2021قصائد ذات جسد مُظلم، تأخذك لتُكمل قراءتها دون أن تُدرك…
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews