You Only Love Me When I'm Suffering: Poems

by Jon Lupin, The Poetry Bandit

If you’re going to let me burn,the least you could dois stick aroundand watch the show.You Only Love Me When I’m Suffering is a naked and powerful poetic portrait of love, heartbreak, and restoration. In this book of 200 poems from noteworthy Instagram poet Jon Lupin—better known as The Poetry Bandit—you’ll find a poetic trellis with heartfelt words and raw emotion coiling in and around its frame. Immerse yourself in the thoughts, musings, and wisdom that more than 100,000 Instagram followers have already found with The Poetry Bandit’s You Only Love Me When I’m Suffering.

Genres: Poetry

187 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 18, 2018

About the author

See also Jon Lupin The Poetry Bandit.

Reviews

[Nat K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes only poetry will do. Those little bursts of words that convey so much in a few sentences. I think that poetry allows a writer to truly open their heart, and for the reader to do likewise.

” I’m afraid you only love me when I’m suffering.”
” ...the truth believes in second chances...”

Many of these poems are so raw that they hurt. But at the same time, they’re like a release. Others are mellow. Like a glass of wine savoured on a Friday evening. Some are just simply beautiful.

” A sip of coffee,
and I will light this world.
A sip of whiskey,
and I will burn along with it.”
- Catch-22

You cannot get any more honest than that.

I’ve been feeling a bit fatigued lately, and this is just what I needed. And how could I go wrong when there’s a poem titled ”Lonely Insomniac”.

Jon Lupin is a Canadian writer. I stumbled across his work on Instagram @The_PoetryBandit, and was intrigued enough by what I read to buy this, as well as his other collection “Encyclopedia Of a Broken Heart”.

” I feel most broken
on a Sunday,
when I'm reminded
another week begins
without you.”
- Lord’s Day

[Raven Gunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's heartbreaking and comforting at the same time! Often while reading this book, I feel like the poems have grown arms, and reached from the pages so they can hold my hand and tell me everything is going to be okay. Everyone should have this book on their shelf!

[Enid Luiten · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book shares the author’s spiritual pain, loss and the recovery of hope. It is an encouragement to all those who feel they suffer alone that there is grace in recovery.

[hestia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m an avid lover of the poetry bandit’s work and My Sober Little Moon is my favorite poetry book. This collection was phenomenal and I can’t get over the fact that in almost every poem I see myself and see my struggle and yet see the hope that Jon leaves behind for the reader, for me, to follow. I can’t get enough of his poems and his writing. It doesn’t even matter if you do not share the same experiences as he does, I promise you will still find yourself in the poems and discover hope in the pages.

Read. it. now.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book of poetry I’ve read cover to cover. I loved it! There were some things I couldn’t quite relate to but Lupin’s colorful language made up for it. The only reason I give it a 4/5 is because some of it was darker than I wanted it to be but I honestly don’t know what I was expecting with the title.

[Emma Ciprian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was even more of a treat to read after meeting the author himself - an exceedingly genuine man who seemed so truly passionate about poetry, what he has written and the family that surrounds him. So many passages in this book not only convey his growth and restoration but share it with the reader, allowing them to insert their own life experiences within the shared passages. I am very excited to read his book coming up in October and hopes he continues to share his thoughts with the world.

[Jeremy Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

He’s amazing!!

[Mike Vandergugten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raw, open, and at times profound. Lupin brings the reader along for a peek into the soul of one battling spiritual, emotional, and relational angst, with a refreshing perspective. The talent is deep!