Tender

by Sarah Bates

QUICKENING, I READ ABOUT THE CLAM'S HEART in the dream / the bears / are actual bears / the bears are big / and brown / the bears / are angry / i'm guessing the bears in the dream are grizzlies/because in the dream / I do not run / from the bears / in the dream / i know / that the bears are coming / for me / but in the dream / the bears stop / for anything / that has been lost / between my body / and the blue sky / this part is strange the bears / stopping for a tree / that has lost its leaves / the dark colored kidney / of a clam / its heart / in the dream I know / that the bears / are not actual bears / one of the effects / of pain / is we have to / reckon with the body

Genres: Poetry

56 pages, Paperback

First published February 3, 2020

Reviews

[Savannah Byers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tender is a collection of beautifully crafted poetry. I loved the use of nature and animals in each poem. A wonderful collection of poetry for everyone, but especially women navigating their twenties.

[Natalie Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Sarah Bates voice feels so fresh and interesting, mixing landscape, nature and ecological issues with the incredibly human and feminine. Highly recommend.