Rabbit

by Sophie Robinson

The long-awaited third collection from one of the UK’s finest, most virtuosic of modern lyric poets. These poems take the reader on surprising journeys of healing, hard-won amid personal and social vicissitudes – including triumph over addiction, and alcoholism – and open spaces in which to share in emotional, quasi-spiritual transcendence despite. Who could ask for more? Rabbit was chosen for the PBS Wild Card Choice for Winter, 2018.

Genres: Poetry

80 pages, Paperback

First published November 5, 2018

Reviews

[Konstantin R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

[rating = B]
I had the privilege of being taught by Sophie and it is interesting to see her "inner" life (as I think these poems were directly from personal experiences). I liked this collection and all my friends who have read it also found it well-done. These poems deal with addiction and love and searching for life and freedom. I especially like the pairing of animals and I like how Sophie reverses the idea of "pussy" with "dog" and having a rabbit or rat symbolize addiction and the persistence of addiction and self doubt (about changing). I was not able to find many reviews of this and think it deserves more attention. I understand that some of the poems are "cryptic" because they seem so personal as to distance the reader. But I like that the poems are very modern and try to subvert normal "poetic" language by using text language and discuss ideas surrounding art. However, I did dislike the use of the c-word so often, but I think this is an attempt to reclaim the term for women (instead of it being used in a negative connotation by "men"). And as a little side note, again like Stephen Sexton's collection, the size of the book should have been bigger to accommodate the type of lexical layout that the poems used. Otherwise, I enjoyed the experimentation and how it matched with what was discussed, often enough. These are very brutal, personal, and tender/vulnerable poems that speak to others who may have also gone through similar circumstances.

[Ceren · Rating 5 out of 5]

"i leave her on the floor to die. what do i care. i have my rat."

[⏺ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genius book that's it that's the review

at dusk each day i like to think
of all my new friends in different parts
of the city jerking off　　　　running baths
vaping weed getting sober　　　　running their mouths
　　& reading poetry aloud to one another.

[Silas · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was told by the individual who lent me this that they weren’t a fan but the average reviews for this were rather high ratings so I wanted to give it a try. It always leads one to question if they’ve missed something when they go to give a low rating but alas, despite everyone else’s praise, I, like the person who lent me this, just didn’t enjoy my time with this poetry collection.

It lacked depth. When traumatic experiences were channelled in these poems they appeared just thrown in as if that would be enough to elicit a reaction. However, just listing trauma does not good poetry make.

Additionally, the use of text chat and abbreviations was sporadic and it detracted from the work wherever it was used simply due to its sparsity. Why use a singular text chat abbreviation in a poem? I couldn’t see a purpose for it. It’s a shame because in ‘Black Cherry’ Robinson does a short few lines of poetry about texting which I thought were simple but effective:

don’t mistake my message
for its content: i’ve got nothing
to tell you i just wanted
to be in touch.

However, a random use of ‘w/‘ instead of just using “with” made little sense in poems devoid of any other text speak.

Overall, though briefly tempted to up my rating in the final section, I was simply disappointed in this collection.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Floored.

[Harry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is 21st century Jean Rhys. Good Morning, Midnight without the sexual repression.

[Ruby Welsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will never find a better poetry collection.

I chose this for my coursework, not knowing what to expect.

This collection took my heart, crushed it into a dozen pieces and glued it back together all at the same time.

The empowering themes of mental health, personal growth, struggle and feminity all come together to destroy you in the way all poetry should.

I've never had high expectations of poetry and always looked for something great and now I can safely say nothing will beat this.

Picking this collection for coursework is the best choice I've ever made.

These poems made me feel seen in a world where I'm stomped on and made to be invisible like a pavement crack in a city.
Robinson saw through the pages into my soul and spoke to me and held me and dried my tears.

This book has shot my expectations for poetry and nothing will ever surpass it.

Thank you Robinson
You reinvented poetry!

[Rochelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this collection came to me at just the right moment. For the last two years, I have been writing experimental poetry after becoming fed up with hemmed-in styles. In those two years, I have also been excitedly picking up modern poetry anthologies in shops, scanning them and putting them straight back down again. I was looking for something that reflected how I felt and how I see and how I think things should be written- and finally, finally(!!) this is it. The first anthology I have picked up in years and everything just feels....right. I don't want to spoil the collection for future readers but it is truly beautiful, poignant, clever and absorbing. Seeing contemporary internet speech, adept pop culture references and lower-case poetry all together in this beautiful book is the best treat yet. I feel completely renewed!

[H · Rating 4 out of 5]

i resisted this at first but i can’t resist anything that makes me redefine poetry &

treads a perfect line of repetition that skates on the edge of meaninglessness but arrives at deeper fuller meaning &

i admire everyone who is braver than me about what they will say in a poem &

certain lines made me emit wordless noises because they were so blunt direct & honest &

i’d like to own it &

what is the rabbit &

it oscillates between detachment and attachment in a way that gives me whiplash & makes me sad &

i loved it

[HeatherReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

A visceral, intelligent delve into the philosophy and experience of connectedness and belonging in a modern, technological age. Thematically the poems are clearly feminist, with the tone, or performative elements of the work being radical (in the best way). A fantastic delve in to the feminine experience; though admittedly it is not covering any new ground. The poems are particularly dark and infused with wit and humour. A wonderful collection, I will be reading the authors other works.

[Leila · Rating 5 out of 5]

reminds me of frank o'hara in a few places. sometimes funny or crude, then suddenly achingly tender.

from "sunshine belt machine":

i take care of myself okay
like a baby something
like a mama something
& my eyes
dressed like candy
big as the moon
& it's fine to be full
of pretty much anything
just for a while i love life i love being
alive one day after another
forever. what's next.

[Josie Rushin · Rating 3 out of 5]

poetry anthology read in preparation for an upcoming poetry module. recommended by the course leader. the poem biggest loser really stood out to me as the most powerful text in the collection, especially in comparison to the other poems. i found that there was something that annoyed me about the writing style - it felt quite millennial in its references to emojis and text style writing too.

[Anna Sinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

A tricksy collection, some poems/streams of consciousness going completely over my head. I think it helped that I already knew about the poet and had listened to her explanation about the collection so I had some insight to guide my reading.

[Emily Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I mean I loved it—not tons to say there other than would recommend. It feels very in line with the Hera Lindsay Bird school of poetry.

Honestly though can we talk about the book design because I am obsessed with the felt cover.

[spacey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some beautiful lines but terribly inaccessible at times. Hard to locate throughlines and form and style at times made the reading a challenge, interrupting appreciation.

[Gillian Spooner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't completely sold at first, but the last few poems left me stunned. Loved the whole last section.

[R · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first I was like uhhhhhhh but then I was like hmmmmmm

[Audrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

part 3 rocked me

[Caspar "moved to storygraph" Bryant]

wheely wheely good

[Eva · Rating 2 out of 5]

sejt stof-cover, men ordvalget og opstillingen får digtene til at virke overfladiske og som skrevet af en millennial, der har købt sin første dagbog 💔

[Arcadia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cried

[Po Ruby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fuck me. Just finished & sobbed & sobbed in telegraph hill cafe. I feel heartbroken thirsty horny silly and v cool all at once!

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was at first a bit skeptical at this collection but I enjoyed it more and more the further I read and the more accustomed to her style I got. My favourites were: Biggest Loser, Donut, Black Cherry, Lit Moments and Art in America. I am supposed to write my own poems for my MA and I found her work inspired some writing in me! Thanks Sophie.

[seren✨ starrybooker · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the best poetry books should be dark, funny and a little bit sexy, just like this one

[eleanor]

"& i feed it – milk & bread / & honey & lamb – until i'm sticky as an ant / & shining like a hothouse flower"

obsessed with "&" now