When the Ghosts Come Ashore

by Jacqui Germain

Jacqui Germain's poems in When the Ghosts Come Ashore situate St. Louis as the archetypal American it's here she explores the intersections of race, gender, and violence, here she finds the ghosts of those who still hunger for freedom. But Germain still carves out space for love. As Phillip B. Williams writes of these poems, "Placelessness is the place, leaving only the unsafety of flesh as a hideout. Black presences break from the margins and pierce through these hard lyrics."

Genres: Poetry, Contemporary, LGBT, Womens, Race

52 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2016

Reviews

[Bina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic poetry collection!

[Yasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I'm not big on poetry, this collection has found a way to my heart. My favorite poems are:
- The Atlantic as it welcomes the ghosts
- St. Louis
- The harvest
- How America loves Ferguson tweets more than the city of Ferguson
- Rotted fruit
- Conjuring: a lesson in words and ghosts
- The split rock prays to whatever broke it
- Why I do not trust you with my history
- The bipolar is bored and renames itself

[BookChampions · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jacqui Germain's debut book/chapbook has both punch and beauty. As a St. Louis native, as a poetry slam coach and poet, and as a lover of the written word, I feel serendipitously gifted the opportunity to see Germain perform some of these (and some provocative new) poems in a reading a few weeks ago. And now finally reading this book, I'm convinced Germain is the gift. Her Nat Turner poems are especially stunning and will make a wonderful writing prompt for my students.

[melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent collection. With our curriculum at school recently, I've been thinking a lot about ideas of haunting in literature, how our past and common cultural experiences haunt the present, and Germain effortlessly talks to cities and walks with ghosts in a way I can relate to. A really beautiful collection of poems.
In "Nat Turner Goes Vacationing in D.C.," she writes, "He follows the river of blood back down the road / leaves the city-state full of stone /and carved quotes, empty of bodies and memory / full of so many shadows and so many ghosts."

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don't read this book if you don't like too much imagery. To be frank, this book gave me chills in some pages but some poems are just too graphically detailed. Hence, I didn't buy a physical copy and just read in an ebook so it was a bargain.

[yasmeen · Rating 4 out of 5]

wow so good, i love button poetry poets.

[BetweenLinesAndLife]

This was an incredibly powerful collection that I would highly recommend!
Jacqui Germain is truly talented with words, every poems had something clever and unique yet the collection made sense as a whole as well.
I couldn't be a single standout one simply because every poem was on a very high level.

[Randi · Rating 4 out of 5]

When it comes to poetry, I still have so much to learn. I really enjoyed Jacqui Germain's When the Ghosts Come Ashore. As a current resident and transplant to St. Louis, I recognize a lot of the observations that are made in the collection of poetry. I don't think you have to be from St. Louis to enjoy this though. Many of the same issues of race and gentrification are plaguing other cities so regardless of where you are from, you will recognize these themes.

One image that comes up a lot here is Ghosts and the ancestors of the past. There is one poem that describes using the n-word repeatedly in a classroom and the room becoming haunted as a result. I loved this image and this idea of the past always being with us.

I think this is a great collection and I was very happy to purchase it. Ms. Germain is a spoken word poet so I can also see how some of the words lend better to speaking out loud, which is why I read many of the poems out loud to get that full effect. Nice work!

[Caitlin Conlon · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. this was a powerful collection of work. jacqui manages to put you under a microscope with her language, while also wrapping you up inside of it. beautiful.

[audrey bowers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book #65 of 2018.
This collection of powerful poems was a quick, but worthwhile read.

[Sunni · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book of poetry.
I love the way imagery is used in this work. One of my favorite lines: “the screen lit my face and all I felt were teeth” and “I grew two extra fists along my spine.”

[Abyssinia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some of these poems removed the wind from me. That alone is deserving of 5 stars.

[Jessica✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5* MAYBE A LITTLE HIGHER ACTUALLY :)

[Moa · Rating 3 out of 5]

"You have survived so much that no one remembers. And you still spread warm rain on all your overgrown lots. And you still get dressed in the morning. You still open wide for the sun."

[Aleigha · Rating 4 out of 5]

***Conjuring: A Lesson in Words and Ghosts

[caramels]

“Let my anger be the celebration we were never
supposed to have because we were never
supposed to know we had anything
worth celebrating.”

[Sophia · Rating 3 out of 5]

okkkk as someone who is not the biggest fan of poetry books that was not bad, many moments tho where it was pretty graphic but i do feel that was the intention of the collection

[Maria Pahlman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just want to weep now.

[becks_books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly powerful poetry collection, i loved every single one Germain has a true talent and way with words that many could only dream of

[Stuart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read through Ms. Germain's inaugural collection of poetry twice and remain floored. Visceral, unapologetic and raw, Ms. Germain explores her blackness in reference to her college experience, her chosen city of residence and the boys (black and white) that embroider her existence. Deeply emotional and by turns sardonic, furious, despairing and joyful, Ms. Germain's poetry showcases a world-class talent for self-reflection and observation that poets twice her age struggle to achieve. This collection deserves a home in your heart.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

read

[Cassidy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exquisite, powerful, glorious. Brought me to tears in a subway station.