Necessary Fire

by KMA Sullivan

Poetry. NECESSARY FIRE, KMA Sullivan's debut collection and winner of the St. Lawrence Book Award, opens a window into the world of a woman who is mother, partner, daughter, and lover. Surprising in the variety of moment, wrenching in detail, grounded in grief and care, this collection moves from the innocence and bravery of a young son coming out in a world set to crush him, to playing hymns so a dying mother can plan her funeral service, to witnessing the breaking of a son who had been abused and abandoned in earlier years and cradling an adopted daughter long enough for her to find her own voice, all the while experiencing the fullness and desire and ebullience that comes from loving others and being loved without limit. NECESSARY FIRE offers a deluge of image and emotion and experience, a deluge that only a heart on fire can survive.

Genres: Poetry

92 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2015

Reviews

[Eliza · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of hearing KMA Sullivan perform this past weekend and refused to leave until I had Necessary Fire in my grasp. Why?

Because reflections by women about motherhood is turning into my jam. Sullivan’s collection touches on many themes (parental death, sex, marriage) but her words about the emotional joys & obstacles of parenting caught in my throat. My favorite selections made me think of how fast my son is growing up (A Mother’s Crime), made me tear up (Reality TV), & made me howl with laughter (Left Staggering).

In addition to her raw & unfiltered motherly prose, Sullivan gives you a look back on a sultry weekend with her lover (Saturday), the need for comfort (Viridian), & a poem that gave me a HUGE plot bunny for a novel I don’t have time to write (Careful). Just a beautiful collection and I can’t wait for her next one.