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With Decade
Austere Rex Gamao's first book of poetry, πΎπππ π«ππππ
π, is a verse novel that explores queer futurity and indeterminacy. Decade, the main character, is a queer entity with indeterminate origins and abilities. An aspect of time that takes on any form, they are genderfluid. Working with the form of hybridity and the notion of post-epic, πΎπππ π«ππππ
π disrupts conventions. It is an instance of queering, openness, and instability.
109 pages, Paperback
Published September 1, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 15, 2025
What makes this collection different from others is the fact that it does not shy away from the beauty and the mind-bending concept that it has, which is Decade being made into a living, breathing persona in each poem.
From the beginning, I ask myself how the author wanted Decade to be perceived: an actual person named Decade or a personification of its name? At first, its meaning got lost to me but as I unveil every poem, it finally starts to make sense. I admire how Austere Gamao created the characters in his poems and how as mundane as their interaction may be, there is a well-thought concept behind it.
Austere writes with humor and satire incorporated in some of the poems, never concealing the political meaning behind them. Moreover, Decade is a full persona who lusts and loves and runs away and forgets and leaves, and just live.
Overall, Austere takes us to the journey of love and life of Decade spanning from possibly literal decades compressed into less than a day of journey at least.
From the beginning, I ask myself how the author wanted Decade to be perceived: an actual person named Decade or a personification of its name? At first, its meaning got lost to me but as I unveil every poem, it finally starts to make sense. I admire how Austere Gamao created the characters in his poems and how as mundane as their interaction may be, there is a well-thought concept behind it.
Austere writes with humor and satire incorporated in some of the poems, never concealing the political meaning behind them. Moreover, Decade is a full persona who lusts and loves and runs away and forgets and leaves, and just live.
Overall, Austere takes us to the journey of love and life of Decade spanning from possibly literal decades compressed into less than a day of journey at least.
June 19, 2025
Just finished With Decade (Grana Books, 2024) by Austere Rex Gamao and I loved it! For a genre I love like epic poetry, this novel in verse is surely alienating to read, yet strangely familiar. Decade, a gender-fluid being, isn't out to conquer like the usual epic hero, but to simply exist and that defiance moved me. A perfect read for Pride Month, and my bet for Madrigal-Gonzales Best First Book Award. π π
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews