Courage: Daring Poems for Gutsy Girls

by Karen Finneyfrock, Rachel McKibbens (Editor), Mindy Nettifee (Editor)

Empower and Discover Daring Poems for Gutsy Girls

Unleash the captivating power of words through the captivating anthology, Daring Poems for Gutsy Girls. Crafted to empower and inspire young women aged 13 and above, this collection is a beacon of empowerment that invites you to dive into a world where language becomes a catalyst for personal growth and transformation.

Within the pages of this anthology, you'll find a symphony of advice, reflection, humor, and raw emotion that resonates directly with the hearts of young readers. These verses are more than ink on paper; they are a tapestry of empowerment that speaks to the unique journey of every gutsy girl.

Discover the profound ability of poetry to bring solace through shared experiences, to celebrate the highs and navigate the lows, and to infuse you with the unwavering strength to stand tall. This anthology showcases an array of talented female poets whose words have the potential to leave an enduring impact on your heart and mind. Each poem is a stepping stone toward self-discovery, a reminder that you possess the courage to chase your dreams, and an affirmation that your journey as a gutsy girl is not just valid but celebrated.

Poems for Gutsy Girls is a celebration of the daring spirit within every girl, helping each reader to find their voice.

"These Poems are full of pain, humor, and guts. I wish this was required reading when I was in school." - America Ferrera

Genres: Poetry, Feminism, Young Adult, LGBT, Fiction

149 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 25, 2012

Reviews

[Phoebe A · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, let me tell you how wonderful this book looks like. It has colorful matte book cover which I endlessly slide my hands ever so often. The paper is smooth, thick, and pretty. Second, it says that one tree is planted in exchange of this book. (I think every book from Write Bloody Publishing is like this and I should stop this obsession before it goes out of hand). Lastly, the main part, I love the whole anthology and authors' idea of gathering thoughts and experiences which constitutes courage as a charm to be tucked in every girl's pockets. I wish I read something like this when I was a teenager.

The book is divided into: Made of Lightning (On Body and Identity); The Hurricane Sermons (On Endurance and Truth); For Teeth (On Power and Protection); How To Eat Sugarcane (On Love and Loss, From The Echo Chamber (On Being and Becoming); Bloodline (On Family and Faith); Mirror Anthems (On Esteem and Exposure); and The Wild Language of Stars (On Healing and Living).

I am partial with the poems of Andrea Gibson and Sarah Kay because I'm a fan of them. Besides their poems, here are some of my personal favorites in the collection:

My Girls by Hollis Wong-Wear
The First Time I Hit A Boy by Mindy Nettifee
The Thing I Said That During Gym by Shaney Jean Maney
December by Erica Fabri
In Case You Ever Need It, It Is Here by Daphne Gottlieb
Remembering the Night We Met by Cristin o'keefe aptowicz
Dear Mom by Fatimah Asghar
Etymology of the Beauty Shop by Jamila Woods
Firefly by Sarah Brickman
Bloom by Tara Hardy
Girl with Red Bicycle by Gypsee Yo (Jonida Beqo)

[D. George · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, who knew that the actress Amber Tamblyn (The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants also wrote poetry?

Second, I agree with other reviewers who say that this book is not really for young girls. Maybe an older, mature teenager, but not someone in middle school. The poems are indeed "daring" and cover topics that might be too difficult to understand.

However, older females should definitely read these and keep them nearby.

Standout poems to me included "Should been Jimi Savannah" by Patricia Smith, about using a name to keep a girl "feminine"; "My Girls" by Hollis
Wong-Wear, which is very prescient to the Me Too campaign happening now; and "The Nutritionist" by Andrea Gibson, about trying to find wellness, and which is not really well titled. The last one is especially poignant to me as I grapple with my own illnesses.

The pacing of the poetry, and the sections, is good. It flowed very well for me.

My biggest complaint was the formatting; it wasn't consistent throughout the book. Most people won't even notice those things, for instance that some of the author's names are italicized and some are not, but it bugs me!

[Amy Layton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is SUCH a great anthology--it's filled with iconic poets, filled with poetry about growing up, making strides, learning to love, learning to be hurt.  I can only imagine that it's perfect for other millennials and even zillennials who are beginning to make their way through life, beginning to understand what womanhood is and means, beginning transitional periods in their life narratives.  

I think my favorite poem in this collection was "December" by Erica Miriam Fabri, though I so enjoyed poems by Andrea Gibson and Sonya Renee Taylor.  It's a well-rounded collection filled with women of different ages, races, ethnicities, and generations.  Well worth the read.

Review cross-listed here!

[allisonwonderland · Rating 5 out of 5]

An inspirational, thought-provoking and emotional book of poetry from a group of women poets and spoken word artists. Meant to empower and support others, the poems explore: power, love and loss, body and identity, healing, sexuality, esteem and exposure, all from the perspective of a girl, teenager or woman.

Some of my favourite lines; enjoy.

"some days i call my arms 'wings'
while my head is in the clouds."

"there isn’t a man alive who could undo me"

"this is what it was to be blessed-
to know a love that was beyond owning, beyond the body and its needs, but instead went straight from wild thing to wild thing."

"I am picking everyone first
even the worst kid
and the kid with the stutter
like a skipping record
because I know all of us are scratched,
even if you can't hear it when we speak."

"I am wild as bees and you cannot make a pet of me."

"explain the word power to me
tell me why you feel so small."

"As soon as we slip into this world they stand us on a pad of ink and then a pad of paper. But Little Sister, this is not the only mark you were ever meant to make."

[Colleenish · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this anthology at a bookstore and couldn't put it down. It's everything poems should be, startling and beautiful. A very modern collection of poems about today's problems. I can't wait to lend it out.

[lasvamps · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[kate j · Rating 4 out of 5]

forest fires by sarah kay made me tear up while sitting at the side of a hotel pool in “clean and scenic” scottsdale, arizona

(thank you ali!!!)

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know you've read a good poetry book when you can relate to most of the poems. When they shed light on the darkest part of your mind and then remind you that you are human and that there is someone out there that feels the same way. You are not alone. And then you have those poems that just leave you screaming "YYAAAASSSSS!!!!" because it hit you deep in the soul. That was this book and the writers that contributed to it.

Great read. Great talent. Great job guys!

[B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this book for numerous reasons. First of all, it is intersectional, and includes women of color. That's something I desperately need as a feminist. The poems were well-written and strong. I felt the power of each word and wanted to give a hug to each poetess in the book. Daring Poems for Gutsy Girls is not only for adolescent girls, but also for grownup women who couldn't have such a guide when growing up. It is for mothers, aunts, friends, godmothers and neighbors who know a struggling girl. That's a perfect gift for your adolescent niece, daughter, granddaughter or your friend's daughter.

[Cherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this for teenage me. A few years later than I needed, but to send these powerful thoughts and messages back in time to who I was is very comforting.

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a woman, read this.

If you are a daughter, read this.

If you are have a daughter, read this.

If there is a woman in your life whom you love, read this, and tell her to read it, too.

[Ellis ♥ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Se avessi letto questa silloge durante gli anni della mia adolescenza, probabilmente, sarebbe diventata uno dei miei libri cult. Tuttavia, ora che ho superato i trenta, non ha avuto lo stesso impatto.
Forse dipende davvero da un fattore di sensibilità personale che muta con l'età, ma delle 52 poesie qui contenute se ne salvano poche, ritengo che la traduzione di alcune di esse risulti meccanica e poco fluida, il che va a compromettere le suggestioni che dovrebbe suscitare e quasi far perdere la forza espressiva dei versi.
Nonostante ciò, ne riconosco il valore soprattutto per l'importanza delle tematiche trattate. Di seguito una delle – a mio modesto parere – migliori:

Canto il mio corpo elettrico, soprattutto quando la mia energia finisce di Andrea Gibson

Questo è il mio corpo.
Ho vene che prevedono il tempo
sensibili in particolar modo
a tempeste di sabbia ed uragani.
Il nervoso mi fa battere i denti
come una carriola che raccoglie la pioggia.
Ho la voce arrugginita. È la tempesta in me.

Il dottore dice che un giorno potrei
non riuscire più a camminare.
Come il ferro, è nel mio sangue.
Mia madre è una roccia. Tenne duro
il giorno in cui non poté più
tenere mia nipote in braccio, disse:
“Letti di preghiera sono le nostre rotule.
Sulle rotule ciascuno cammina più veloce
di quanto possa a piedi.”

Questo è il mio battito.
È un’accetta, come il tuo,
che può costruire una casa
o demolirne una.

Scala di sicurezza è la mia bocca.
Non importa alle parole che ne escono
se sono nude. C’è qualcosa qui che brucia.
Quando brucia mi avvicino all’orecchio la conchiglia,
ascolto la parata dei miei sette anni –
il suonatore della cornamusa
era un uomo, e indossava una gonna.
Veniva dalla Scozia e perciò
avrei voluto trasferirmi lì
e che il mio dorso fosse il dorso
di un libro non ancora pubblicato,
la mia fede fosse prima e ultima pagina.

Il giorno in cui la mia gabbia toracica
divenne parco giochi, arrampicata
per la ragazza appesa ad ogni mia parola
mi dissero: “Non ti è permesso amarla”.
Tentarono di prendermi alla gola,
di insegnarmi che io non ero un maschio.

Così disimparai la loro lingua da prigione,
rifiutai di consegnare i desideri alla stella
appuntata su petti da sceriffo.

Alle stelle invece espressi desideri.
Dissi al sole: “Raccontami il big bang”.
Disse il sole: “Fa male divenire”.

Porto ancora quel male sulla punta della lingua
e sussurro “che Dio ti benedica” appena posso
così si rassicura tutto l’albero
genealogico: non me ne sono andata

Non devi ad ogni costo andare via per arrivare.
Lo sto imparando anch’io un po’ alla volta. Per questo
a volte quando guardo nello specchio
i miei occhi sono i buchi nelle scarpe
di un vecchio lustrascarpe in Alabama.

A volte metto mano alle cose sbagliate.
Certi giorni chiamo “ali” le mie braccia
e ho la testa tra le nuvole.
Serviranno ancora pochi anni
prima di imparare che volare
non è spingere via il suolo.

“Sicura” non vuol dire che sei in salvo.
Ce n’è una in ogni arma da fuoco.
Io miro a fare meglio.
Questo è il mio corpo.

Il mio tubo di scappamento non passerà la revisione
eppure i miei polmoni sanno respirare
come una mappa che brucia
ogni volta che mi perdo tra le tende
dei tuoi capelli, puoi trovarmi alla finestra:
ripercorro il mio passato
fino alla pista di sangue nella neve.

La notte in cui ho aperto le mie vene
il dottore che poi le ha ricucite
mi ha chiesto se l’ho fatto in cerca di attenzione.
Per la cronaca, se anche tu hai mai fatto qualche cosa in cerca di
attenzione
questa poesia è attenzione.
Dalle come titolo il tuo nome.
Misurerà coi passi il ponte della tua città
ogni notte in cui ti fermi e fissi il fiume.
Non vuole trovare il tuo corpo
mentre fa qualsiasi cosa che non sia
amare ciò che ama.

Ama ciò che ami
di’: “Questo è il mio corpo
non è di nessun altro se non mio”.
Questo è il mio sistema nervoso,
il mio sangue che vuole, che chiede,
le mie dipendenze domate a metà,
la mia lingua annodata
come una matassa di luci di Natale.

Se metti una stella sulla cima del mio albero
assicurati che sia una stella che è caduta,
che abbia toccato il fondo
percuotendolo come un tamburello
ché tutte ’ste parole sono storie
per la scala che conduce alla cima dei polmoni
dove canto ciò che provoca dolore
e c’è un’eco che torna indietro e dice:
“Dio ti benedica,
benedica le tue rotule
sante, così svelte.

Tu sei così piena di pioggia.
Così tanto sta crescendo.
Alleluia alle tue vene che prevedono il tempo
Alleluia al dolore, allo strappo
alla caduta, al male.
Alleluia alla grazia di ogni corpo
di ogni particella in tutti noi.

[Hermioneginny · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sarà che ormai sono una ex ragazza, ma ho trovato queste poesie eccessivamente verbose e con lo stesso tono (probabilmente per colpa della traduzione che le ha appiattite).

* Non devi ad ogni costo andare via per arrivare.
* Da piccola pensavo che il mio corpo
fosse fatto di ossa e di rose. In quale altro modo si poteva
spiegare
l’anima?
*so che ogni parola che diciamo
può scatenare uragani nelle vene delle persone più sensibili
o fare brillare il loro sole
* Voglio essere una danza del ventre, una fisarmonica, un trampolo
a molla
o le impronte delle dita che il muratore ha lasciato
nell’incavo tra i mattoni
per provare che lui è stato lì,
che ha costruito un tetto sulla testa di qualcuno
per tenere lontana la tempesta dalla loro speranza.
Mia madre dice è per questo che siamo nati, tutti.
* un dio brutale mi ha dato un dono stupendo e il vero egoismo
è vivere senza. Non è che non voglia
un principe. Più che altro, ho fede che
tutti gli angoli storti di cui sono fatta saranno abbastanza
per il lui o la lei che incrocerà il mio cammino al suo.
Quando accadrà, il mio vero principe non mi chiederà
di scendere dal mio ronzino malandato o infornare
una bella crostata. Il mio vero principe non mi infilerà una cuffia
di pungiglioni chiedendomi di fingere sia amore.
Perché il vero amore, quando lo incrocerò, finalmente,
troverà il mio pieno valore nella mia realizzazione, nel mio sbocciare,
già chiaramente sposa al mio alveare.
* Il cuore e la mente e il corpo
potrebbero non allinearsi mai ai bisogni della gioia.
La mente deve imparare la pazienza verso il cuore.
Il cuore deve imparare la fede dal corpo.
Il corpo deve essere teso con amore, senza remore, un infante.
Il cuore troverà la dolcezza coi suoi tempi, e non gli si può mettere
fretta.
“Fingi, finché non lo senti”, ci disse,
e fu così che ci diede il permesso
di indossare le strette maschere dell’età adulta
di costruire muri attorno a ciò che era
troppo tenero e ferito;
per sopravvivere.
* c’è chi non capirà mai
quale superpotere si richiede, a volte, ad alcune persone
anche soltanto per uscire di casa.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

The best thing about studying poetry is when your friends lend you anthologies to read. So a shout out to Katie for this good collection of poetry for young women. Inside you will find stories, lessons and hauntings of a variety of lives.

"My mouth is a fire escape.
The words coming out can't care that they are naked.
There is something burning in here. (26).

The poems in this collection urge women to use their voices and speak loudly about their experiences. Speak of race, of disability, of class, of queerness. There is a mighty range of understanding embedded in each poem that has the potential to make it special for other readers.

"pull back your lips, bare the teeth you have
sharpened to their perfect points, flick
your stinger tongue, set free your swarm" (73).

My favourites included:
I Sing The Body Electric, Especially When My Power's Out - Andrea Gibson (26).
Private Parts - Sarah Kay (32).
Swarm - Jeanann Verlee (73).
For My Childhood Best Friend... - Sara Brickman (81).
13 Ways of Looking at 13 - Patricia Smith (94).
Dear Mom - Fatimah Asghar (108).
Poem for Aimee Rose - April Ranger (119)
Discipline - Mindy Nettifee (147).
The Nutritionist - Andrea Gibson (154).

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you ever need poetry recommendations, I beg that you let me introduce you to some of my absolute favorites because I have SO MANY. This collection, published by Write Bloody, features some of my favorite female and non-binary authors and is probably my favorite poetry collection to date. •
•
Featuring poems that speak on topics of vulnerability, sexuality, friendships, adolescence, grief, first loves, and more, this book breathes fierceness, wit, and empowerment. My personal copy is littered with underlined passages and notes in the margins; I am really glad I picked it up during my 24 hour readathon to give myself a break between my long novels.

[Ros (Rosie) 🦋 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good anthology of poems! These poems are very modern and bring with them all sorts of emotion.

Some are more though invoking than others, some are happy and some are just straight witty. These
poems bring with them empowerment for young ladies.

I have read this now many times as a young adult and I believe that I will read this again many more times, with a different outlook on life.

I expected cheesy poems with the description being for girls aged 12-21 but was very pleasantly surprised.

[Irene · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for all females over the age of 14 who enjoy poetry. It's a great reminder for everyone of what it means to be a teenage girl, or a girl in general, and not fitting in a certain mold, not being good enough, not being able to say no. Wonderful collection of contemporary poetry, and believe me, I tried reading it out loud and it was even more powerful. Each poem had its tone, its rhythm, its voice, and it felt like an avalanche. I need to reread it as soon as I can.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

C’è da dire che Poesie per ragazze di grazia e di fuoco è un’altalena emotiva che dipinge con pennellate rozze una matassa di luci e ombre, accentuando l’una e l’altra senza esclusione di colpi, è questo che rende la lettura sublime, il sapere che c’è una o più di una poesia che racconta o che ha raccontato una parte importante di noi.

[arden · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wouldnt give this to a girl under the age of 14 for content reasons. If you're sure she hasn't been exposed to the horrors of the world, dont give her this book. Despite my warning I liked this book. "My Girls" by Hollis Wong-Wear almost made me cry so that's a great one.

[Rebecca 🐝 · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many good poems in this book,

My favorite section was “Mirror Anthems”, I think I pinned every poem in that section to be able to find and look back on.

Also: The Nutrionist is arguably the best poem of the book.

Good read!

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't love every poem, but there were definitely a few that struck me, and that was the point of the book. I even have a new favorite poet to follow now.

[Danielle Palmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not love all the poems in this collection, but the ones I liked I really liked!

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Due o tre poesie veramente stupende, tutte le altre dimenticabili.

[Carme · Rating 3 out of 5]

mentiría si dijese que me enteré de algo

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mostly cried, didn't really laugh. 3.5/5

I'm a sucker for Write Bloody. Wish the bios were at the front.

[Elena · Rating 3 out of 5]

operazione interessante, ma forse sono troppo legata alla poesia classica pr apprezzare il testo.

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book description says it is for girls aged 12-21, but it is definitely appropriate - perhaps more so - for adult girls as well. I loved these poems. Powerful, feminist, compelling, and raw.

[Christine Gaza · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought the title of this book was going to lend itself to "cheesy" poetry about girls, or if not cheesy, just young poetry. That was definitely not the case. Some of our best female slam poets are listed in this book. Definitely a book where you could read the poems as a young adult and then again as an adult and get an entirely different experience.

[Lorin Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A raw collection of poems from Write Bloody Publishing that you should definitely buy for the teen in your life (or your 27yo self.)
There’s no coddling or censorship here. There’s lots on the wonder and pain of growing + dreamy section titles like “The Hurricane Sermons: On Endurance and Truths”.
Patricia Smith’s spitfire and imagery-loaded “Shoulda Been Jimmi Savannah” & “13 Ways of Looking At 13” are the ones that stuck.

"from the time you stumbled through the rhythm/and she slow-smiled, you suddenly knew you had the right/to be explosive, to sling syllables through back doors, to make up your own damned words just when you needed them” - Patricia Smith

[Laura Tarasoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daring is a good description for this collection of poetry. Thought provoking and discussable topics make this an ideal collection for anyone wanting to open the table to what being gutsy really means.
There are no forbidden topics in this collection. No soft cushions or glittery endings here. If you are looking for poetry to encourage young women to be overcomers, this is ideal.
If you are looking for poetry that is as real as your real life, there is something here for you.