Safe Space

by Jos Charles

Poetry. LGBTQIA Studies. SAFE SPACE takes back its title from the term's intentional misuse within the neo-liberal/conservative imaginary, but this action can offer a reader only the slightest indication of the nervy energy pulsing within this first full-length collection by Jos Charles. Throughout the poems in SAFE SPACE, Charles defiantly articulates the terms of a radicalized vulnerability unashamed to feel and never feeling ashamed, reclaiming agency over both poetry and politics, refusing to placate any authority attempting to control bodies with violence. The poet's agile lyricism rips apart and reimagines theoretical discourses as confessional texts and vice versa, with severe lines and staccato rhythms. As a hyperkinetic interrogation of contexts that give rise to its disruptions of, and interventions on, youth, sexual trauma, and transness, SAFE SPACE is critical reading in both senses of the term. The collection dazzles and devastates, confronting a world whose ruin is long overdue with equal parts glee and sadness, compassion and power.

Genres: Poetry, Transgender, LGBT, Queer

68 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2016

About the author

Jos Charles is a trans poet, editor, and author of feeld, a winner of the 2017 National Poetry Series, selected by Fady Joudah and Safe Space, a finalist for the 2016 Lambda Literary Award for Transgender Poetry.

Reviews

[Carolyn DeCarlo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Safe Space is a brilliant debut, and a collection I will absolutely be revisiting after reading feeld, Jos's latest book. The book itself has been produced thoughtfully by Ahshata Press; the waxy endpapers and textured cover make the book feel good in your hands, and the generous margins allow Jos's words to breathe on the page. Their verse is tight, sensible, and certain, showing a real confidence only possible with practice and the passage of time; nothing about it feels rushed or, least of all, amateurish.

Some of my favourite lines appear early on in the collection: "To exist in this world requires// all ur thought and yet it's absolutely/ effortless Even carrots do it". When things get more "unconventional", Jos's writing teaches you how to read it. I really enjoyed this aspect of the read, and am looking forward to more of it in feeld.

[Shilo]

I can't decide what to rate this. I loved some of the poems, but some I did not care for, so I think I will just leave the stars blank, each person can decide for themselves without my impressions left staining things.

[Mikael · Rating 5 out of 5]

bought this after LOVING feeld. more funny than totally heartbreaking but still heartbreaking. the verse less gorgeous and more direct and droll but still beautiful. always love a work written/made just before an artist's magnum opus, this is like sonic youth's experimental, jet set, trash and no star before they released washing machine. you'll appreciate it even more after you read feeld.

[D.A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fierce. An amazing collection.

[Alyson Podesta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was looking for this book for so long after stumbling across it in a store one day and FOOLISHLY not buying it! Worth the wait

[Nikita Ladd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Day 7 of Sealey Challenge: Favorites in this collection were "Love Letter" and an amazing quote from page 59 that reads "When u told me anthropology wasn't / creative i felt sorry for u cause poetry / is just like ethnography but with less / research"