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Abstract Heart
ab-stract (adjective)
existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or concrete existence.
heart (noun)
the central or innermost part of something.
Abstract Heart is a labor of love, emerging from the unfiltered mind of poet J. Iron Word, a book that pulls at the strings of our beliefs about the nature of love until they unravel.
Through the bravado of his writing and the painstaking clarity of his voice, Iron Word has crafted a work of art that encompasses how love has the power to transform and transcend us all.
existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or concrete existence.
heart (noun)
the central or innermost part of something.
Abstract Heart is a labor of love, emerging from the unfiltered mind of poet J. Iron Word, a book that pulls at the strings of our beliefs about the nature of love until they unravel.
Through the bravado of his writing and the painstaking clarity of his voice, Iron Word has crafted a work of art that encompasses how love has the power to transform and transcend us all.
- GenresPoetry
240 pages, Paperback
Published December 25, 2016
36 people are currently reading
547 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
March 20, 2017
Very short, but good, poetry/prose. My favorite quote:
"You found parts of me I did not know existed, and in you, I found a love I no longer believed was real."
"You found parts of me I did not know existed, and in you, I found a love I no longer believed was real."
August 29, 2024
4 ☆
”she said, ‘forgive me for being a dreamer’ and he took her by the hand and replied. ‘forgive me for not being here sooner, to dream with you.’”
”she said, ‘forgive me for being a dreamer’ and he took her by the hand and replied. ‘forgive me for not being here sooner, to dream with you.’”
December 28, 2018
Tja, was gibt man einem Buch, das das kleine, sich nach Liebe sehnende Herz wieder fein säuberlich zusammensetzt?
J. Iron Word begleitet mich schon seit einigen Jahren (über Instagram) und ich bin umso glücklicher seine gesammelten Werke jetzt in einem Buch zu besitzen... Ich habe mir gefühlt jedes Wort markiert - vor allem die über Selbstakzeptanz, Stärke und natürlich Liebe...
Auch das Wachsen als Individuum in einer Beziehung wird hier thematisiert, was mich besonders beeindruckt hat, denn obwohl es immer um das ,Wir‘ ging, gab es trotzdem noch zwei ,Ich‘ (sehr wichtig, vor allem für mich als Schütze haha)
Der letzte Abschnitt war einfach nur perfekt gelungen und hat noch einmal verdeutlicht, dass man sich nur selbst retten kann und dafür auf niemanden bauen muss.
J. Iron Word begleitet mich schon seit einigen Jahren (über Instagram) und ich bin umso glücklicher seine gesammelten Werke jetzt in einem Buch zu besitzen... Ich habe mir gefühlt jedes Wort markiert - vor allem die über Selbstakzeptanz, Stärke und natürlich Liebe...
Auch das Wachsen als Individuum in einer Beziehung wird hier thematisiert, was mich besonders beeindruckt hat, denn obwohl es immer um das ,Wir‘ ging, gab es trotzdem noch zwei ,Ich‘ (sehr wichtig, vor allem für mich als Schütze haha)
Der letzte Abschnitt war einfach nur perfekt gelungen und hat noch einmal verdeutlicht, dass man sich nur selbst retten kann und dafür auf niemanden bauen muss.
June 2, 2017
This is real life.
We seek. We find. We love. We hurt. We cry.
That's the impression given in J. Iron Word’s collection of narrative(esque) poems: he documents the trials and tribulations of loving another. Each poem is presented as an affirmation; they’re contemporary and deserve to be framed and given a central position on the mantelpiece. Iron Word serves slices of modern love across five aptly titled chapters. No hyperboles, here! NO, Abstract Heart strips away layers of the relationship, exposes our core emotions and gives a true insight to what it feels to love and be hurt, deeply.
Each poem is stamped with a date. This gives the collection a sense of authenticity:
What do you plan to do / with those wings, everyone knows humans can’t fly? I’m / not everyone, I am me and I am a / dreamer and a doer.
...and a sense of honesty and truth:
The only thing / we ever really / want is to be / loved by / someone, with the same / ferocity in which we love.
This collection of poems needs no introduction or explanation because the poems are guaranteed to resonate with all who come into contact with them. Obscure artwork complements some of the words, consequently, inference is sought at a deeper level.
Post-it notes are a MUST with this collection! The strong determination modelled in these words, coupled with the adoration that shines through the metaphors inspires us to embrace mine, yours and our chosen love’s insecurities. Post-it notes are a MUST. Take note: this anthology leaves you with aspirations to be a better partner.
Abstract Heart wears its heart on its sleeve because it is a poetic analysis of the definition and ideals of love.
We seek. We find. We love. We hurt. We cry.
That's the impression given in J. Iron Word’s collection of narrative(esque) poems: he documents the trials and tribulations of loving another. Each poem is presented as an affirmation; they’re contemporary and deserve to be framed and given a central position on the mantelpiece. Iron Word serves slices of modern love across five aptly titled chapters. No hyperboles, here! NO, Abstract Heart strips away layers of the relationship, exposes our core emotions and gives a true insight to what it feels to love and be hurt, deeply.
Each poem is stamped with a date. This gives the collection a sense of authenticity:
What do you plan to do / with those wings, everyone knows humans can’t fly? I’m / not everyone, I am me and I am a / dreamer and a doer.
...and a sense of honesty and truth:
The only thing / we ever really / want is to be / loved by / someone, with the same / ferocity in which we love.
This collection of poems needs no introduction or explanation because the poems are guaranteed to resonate with all who come into contact with them. Obscure artwork complements some of the words, consequently, inference is sought at a deeper level.
Post-it notes are a MUST with this collection! The strong determination modelled in these words, coupled with the adoration that shines through the metaphors inspires us to embrace mine, yours and our chosen love’s insecurities. Post-it notes are a MUST. Take note: this anthology leaves you with aspirations to be a better partner.
Abstract Heart wears its heart on its sleeve because it is a poetic analysis of the definition and ideals of love.
October 13, 2017
Reminiscent of r.h. Sin's "a beautiful composition of broken". Some poems resonated with me, but they did read more like statements or sentences, which makes me question what a poem is, really... Is it its structure? Is it the message or the feelings evoked? If I can write a simple sentence about my heart, about love, bravery, or pain, am I a poet too? The poems in the last chapter were written in the more traditional poetic structure of stanzas, and I felt they packed a bit more punch. I highlighted some standouts throughout, though, or at least the ones that spoke to me:
More
I wish there was more to you and
I, like we could be an us, and
every hurt we ever knew could
be buried in our before.
Love Tears
The love that flows
from her eyes is not pain it is love.
Heart Lessons
"Hey heart when will you
learn?"
"That's not my job brain."
I am done with
incomplete loves and
almost forevers...
(part of a longer poem called Forever Imperfections)
A lot of the poems felt like pieces of advice, words of wisdom and not poetry in the traditional sense. But I don't feel I can make a judgment in that sense as I am fairly new to reading poetry. I guess I would say, if it says something meaningful to you or you enjoy it, and it is in a structure that is readable and cohesive, maybe it doesn't matter what it is called. Come to think of it, I don't think the word poem or poetry is written anywhere on or inside this book. If it is shelved in the poetry section does that mean the author intended these as poems, or that the publisher chose to market them that way? I guess my point is, it's difficult to review a book of "poems" when I cannot properly define a poem. I can only really relay my experience of reading these. I enjoyed some, I felt indifferent to others, and some tugged at my heartstrings. Solid but not particularly earth-shattering in revelation. It was a bit unclear to me as to who the "Her" was in the "Her" chapter. Every woman? A woman in particular the author/poet loves? Not sure. I do love the cover of this book.
More
I wish there was more to you and
I, like we could be an us, and
every hurt we ever knew could
be buried in our before.
Love Tears
The love that flows
from her eyes is not pain it is love.
Heart Lessons
"Hey heart when will you
learn?"
"That's not my job brain."
I am done with
incomplete loves and
almost forevers...
(part of a longer poem called Forever Imperfections)
A lot of the poems felt like pieces of advice, words of wisdom and not poetry in the traditional sense. But I don't feel I can make a judgment in that sense as I am fairly new to reading poetry. I guess I would say, if it says something meaningful to you or you enjoy it, and it is in a structure that is readable and cohesive, maybe it doesn't matter what it is called. Come to think of it, I don't think the word poem or poetry is written anywhere on or inside this book. If it is shelved in the poetry section does that mean the author intended these as poems, or that the publisher chose to market them that way? I guess my point is, it's difficult to review a book of "poems" when I cannot properly define a poem. I can only really relay my experience of reading these. I enjoyed some, I felt indifferent to others, and some tugged at my heartstrings. Solid but not particularly earth-shattering in revelation. It was a bit unclear to me as to who the "Her" was in the "Her" chapter. Every woman? A woman in particular the author/poet loves? Not sure. I do love the cover of this book.
July 5, 2020
I love when stars align and I realize that someone I’ve been following on Instagram also happened to have a book sitting in my TBR and I didn’t realize it!
I remember picking up this book a while back because of the cover and the title. It’s just so gorgeous! The art style and text placement on the cover, and in the section dividers within the book, are just so pleasing to look at!
So, naturally, I had high expectations (because I was already following him on Instagram)...
But I also didn’t realize until I started reading that the book was published in 2016, and here I am reading it in 2020. That’s 4 years of evolution and learning J’s had from then until now. I tried to take that into consideration as I read.
***
The poems in this book is where I struggled. I have so many poems that I loved, but also quite a few that just missed the mark for me. I felt they were too simple, but poetry is subjective and every poet’s style is different. Just because it doesn’t work for me doesn’t mean my opinion is the popular one (and it often isn’t).
That being said, I think J nails the longer poems in this book! (Again, keeping in mind the 4 years difference.)
***
All in all, I still liked the book! And I like reading books like this so I can see how poets have improved from the past to the present!
I remember picking up this book a while back because of the cover and the title. It’s just so gorgeous! The art style and text placement on the cover, and in the section dividers within the book, are just so pleasing to look at!
So, naturally, I had high expectations (because I was already following him on Instagram)...
But I also didn’t realize until I started reading that the book was published in 2016, and here I am reading it in 2020. That’s 4 years of evolution and learning J’s had from then until now. I tried to take that into consideration as I read.
***
The poems in this book is where I struggled. I have so many poems that I loved, but also quite a few that just missed the mark for me. I felt they were too simple, but poetry is subjective and every poet’s style is different. Just because it doesn’t work for me doesn’t mean my opinion is the popular one (and it often isn’t).
That being said, I think J nails the longer poems in this book! (Again, keeping in mind the 4 years difference.)
***
All in all, I still liked the book! And I like reading books like this so I can see how poets have improved from the past to the present!
July 2, 2023
Most of this was painful for me to read through. I, apparently, do not like poetry that reads like TikTok captions, or cheesy #aesthetic Pinterest memes.
I understand that this is the trend, but these were horrifically superficial, sometimes to the point where I had to ask "what?" aloud.
For example:
"She's a Wonder
She's no Barbie.
She is Wonder Woman,
with a sailor's mouth."
???????
The entire book is fragments like that, each with a date and the author's name as the signature. As others have said, there are a few gems in here - but for every 1 decent poem there are about 10-20 that are horrible and faux profound that is only riding on the popular trend in poetry that I simply cannot stand.
I understand that this is the trend, but these were horrifically superficial, sometimes to the point where I had to ask "what?" aloud.
For example:
"She's a Wonder
She's no Barbie.
She is Wonder Woman,
with a sailor's mouth."
???????
The entire book is fragments like that, each with a date and the author's name as the signature. As others have said, there are a few gems in here - but for every 1 decent poem there are about 10-20 that are horrible and faux profound that is only riding on the popular trend in poetry that I simply cannot stand.
January 20, 2018
I was in love with this collection from the very first four poems. Even though this is modern poetry and more of just sentences rather than true poems, it’s a format I love when done well because I read poetry to connect to the words, not usually to dissect symbolism and all those things English teacher try to pry out of “deep” poems.
These poems felt like I wrote them myself. It was as if J. Iron Word and I share the same heart and the same ideas about love. This book was everything I long for when reading love poems, to find small quotes that describe my thoughts and feelings I could never put into words myself.
I will read these poems over and over.
These poems felt like I wrote them myself. It was as if J. Iron Word and I share the same heart and the same ideas about love. This book was everything I long for when reading love poems, to find small quotes that describe my thoughts and feelings I could never put into words myself.
I will read these poems over and over.
June 25, 2018
I’m normally not a poetry fan but found J.Iron Word through Instagram, so of course I had to own the book!!
Well it was so beautiful and loving that the poems made me cry! Like a lot!! Seriously you can open any page in the book and be blown away with words of love!! The book of love is real because it’s this one!!
Excited to read the next! Because I loved reading this one! Even though I cried. I’m touched!!
Well it was so beautiful and loving that the poems made me cry! Like a lot!! Seriously you can open any page in the book and be blown away with words of love!! The book of love is real because it’s this one!!
Excited to read the next! Because I loved reading this one! Even though I cried. I’m touched!!
June 22, 2017
God this book. Every chapter is a treasure. I loved every minute of it. I just wanted to be the 'she' J. Iron Word refers to in the chapter called 'She'. And the last chapter was so relatable. My favorite poem was 'The Example'. Beautiful. Just beautiful. I'm definitely going to have to read it again!
January 19, 2018
This feels almost more like a book of quotes.
It still drives me bonkers that single sentences with titles are called poems by this generation, but some of his are quite lovely.
STILL, they are poetic sentences, not poems. I suppose though, to get your work read in the era said work has a 140 character limit.
It still drives me bonkers that single sentences with titles are called poems by this generation, but some of his are quite lovely.
STILL, they are poetic sentences, not poems. I suppose though, to get your work read in the era said work has a 140 character limit.
June 6, 2018
I don't usually ready poetry books but I read one online that caught my eye. This book is full of so-so poems but there are a few gems. I tried to stop and think about them, but most of them were so small the pages fly by. I liked the longer ones at the end of the book a lot more.
February 23, 2017
Wonderful
I loved every word of it, and wanted to read it again and again. It's so sweet and easy to fall in love with. I hope there's more to come.
I loved every word of it, and wanted to read it again and again. It's so sweet and easy to fall in love with. I hope there's more to come.
May 8, 2017
Short poems that speak to your soul!! Ran into his instagram account a bit ago and so glad I did!! I love this work and I can't wait to see what else he comes out with!! Highly recommend
May 12, 2017
it's was nice at the beginning but the long poems at the back kinda put me to sleep sorry they just did.
July 24, 2017
3.5 stars
Favs: Spark, Wild, All Seasons, Complete Mess, One, Partner, "This", Soulmates, and Immortal
Favs: Spark, Wild, All Seasons, Complete Mess, One, Partner, "This", Soulmates, and Immortal
September 16, 2017
Painfully average. For every good poem, around 20 boring or average ones followed.
November 3, 2017
loved this book!!!
January 1, 2018
Meh. A junior high English teacher reading student love poems would find this book a very similar experience. Maybe one in ten poems are not cliche and somewhat powerful.
January 19, 2018
Amazingly beautiful. It rigged at my heart strings and I could relate completely
May 17, 2018
I liked this book way more than Live Loud, Love Loud
July 9, 2018
Would be good to use short poems to teach figurative language with warm ups.
January 13, 2019
Simplicity and truth.
May 5, 2020
I definitely feel like this book will lift me when I need to be lifted and make me reflect when I need to self analyze.
June 6, 2020
beautiful
May 31, 2021
I love J. Iron Word’s work! Such a great read. Full of heart and soul.
June 8, 2021
Great read! Finished it in a day 🙂🤍
December 1, 2021
My soul must have had something to do with some of the words that were written.
I needed this!
Simple and quick read, yet emotionally touching.
I needed this!
Simple and quick read, yet emotionally touching.
January 7, 2022
Short but really good.
March 16, 2023
“She said, ‘Forgive me for being a dreamer,’ and he took her by the hand and replied, ‘Forgive me for not being here sooner to dream with you.’”—J. Iron Word
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews