while I wait to be a god again

by Don Martin

"Martin's work clings to the memory like the scent of incense in a church. Each line pushes the reader further into doubt as to what is human and what is divine. That doubt is vital, as poet and reader are both. Martin writes so potently that one feels they should roll up the pages and smoke them after they're read. Transcendent. Poetry as a Schedule I substance." - Meg Elison, author of The Book of the Unnamed Midwife and the Road to Nowhere series.While I wait to be a god again is an evocative collection of poetry that plays with the line between what it means to be human and what it means to be divine. It is an expression of bemused disillusionment after growing up to find that adulthood is filled with people that are as equally lost as you. Yet, somehow, finding humor in the pain and ennui of that discovery. This follow-up collection to Martin's debut, The Playground, is for those that enjoy the magical realism of Neil Gaiman's American Gods or poetic voices such as Hal Sirowitz, Beau Sia, or Mary Karr.

Genres: Poetry

117 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 24, 2020

About the author

Don Martin is a New York Times, USA Today, and Indie Bestselling author whose work spans young adult fantasy, nonfiction, and poetry. He is best known for his critically acclaimed debut YA novel, Verity Vox and the Curse of Foxfire (2025), which earned starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly, Booklist, and Shelf Awareness. It was also a Common Sense Selection and was named one of Common Sense Media’s Best Books of 2025. The novel was further honored as a 2026 ALA Rainbow List selection and was praised by Kirkus Reviews for its authentic portrayal of his Appalachian roots.

His diverse portfolio includes the nonfiction work Where Did Everybody Go? and The Dabbler’s Guide to Witchcraft, along with his #1 Amazon LGBT poetry collection, while I wait to be a god again. Don hosts the Head On Fire podcast, conducting deep-dive interviews with experts in overlooked or misunderstood fields.

He lives just outside Chicago with his husband and their many, many pets. He is represented by Kate Davids of ARC Literary Management.

Reviews

[Xa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read poetry infrequently, but this book is something to truly savor, to roll the words around in your mouth as the flavor melts and becomes a part of you. There were a couple pieces that particularly felt familiar and like home, which was unexpected and wholly welcome.

[Amy Irish · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of delicious poetic gems in here. I was delighted to be introduced to Don's work via a performance with SJ Tucker, and I pleased happy I bought "while I wait to be a god again." This is a lovely, powerfully-personal (yet relatable) work that I will enjoy reading again.

[Shannon Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don Martin has collected actual human experiences, and emotions in his writing. It's all there - love, dejection, snark, EVERYTHING; and it's all real. I feel like I'm a different person, after reading into his soul, his very existence. a HUGE thank you to Don, for sharing himself with all of us!

[Mary Eyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I felt Don was telling my own story. His writing is beautiful, lyrical.

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don Martin’s poetry is a feast. His words are like the first taste of your favourite meal when your belly is achingly hungry. You wolf down whole poems like a kid devouring juicy fruit stolen from a neighbour’s tree. Lines will linger in your thoughts and on your tongue - you may feel the need to read some poems aloud to experience them physically.

The poet explores humanity and divinity and where these overlap, but his poems are accessible, rooted in the reality of this century, and filled with the ease of a beautiful conversation between good friends.

I discovered this book via social media - you can find Don Martin @headonfirepod on most channels.

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found Don’s tiktok and saw this book of his was available on Kindle Unlimited and I was instantly drawn in. Seriously, once I started reading it, I couldn’t put it down. It was such a quick and powerful collection of poems and all of them made you feel some kind of emotion. My favorites are definitely “unopened letter”, “Swift”, “when the sky loves”, and “underwater” but I honestly loved each and every single one of them. I’m betting on it now. This book is going to blow up one day and I’m ready to see it get the recognition it deserves!

[Sarah-Jayne - · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poetry is medicinal to me and it should be on prescription. When I’m sad, when I’m tired, when I’m happy - I search for verse that will help ground me.

I absolutely loved this collection by Don Martin. He has a wonderfully lyrical and descriptive prose that doesn’t stray into verbose.

If you follow Don, you will no doubt hear his voice as you read these soulful offerings - another reason to love them.

[Konnilaree Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book of vulnerability and vivid stories of life told through poetry. I wanted to highlight the whole book.

[Alisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven’t read adult poetry for years, so when I saw this on TikTok I wanted to give it a go. I read some, and found I couldn’t “get into it”. So I put it down and waited for a rainy day. I enjoyed the first half and was just about to put it down again but then I got to the poem Two Weeks… and the 5 stars is from that poem onward.

[B.L. Aldrich · Rating 4 out of 5]

To keep up the reading momentum I also finished While I Wait to be a God Again, a poetry collection by gay writer Don Martin. I found Don through his sweet, intelligent TikToks where he often skewers bigotry with humor. That wit threaded through a collection filled with strong imagery and truly creative perspectives on seemingly mundane subjects. His voice is genuinely unique and made for a great read. My favorite pieces included, "Mr. Green" , "arcade" , "resurrection game" , "Ratatosk" , "Reynard" , and "grief hungers."

[Michael Mcdonough · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great variety. Funny poems. Poems about heartbreak. Poems about death. Funny poems about heartbreak and death. A couple of my favorites: “evening run” is subtly creepy, the everyday uncanny that a less keen observer could let go. And “When does a war start” is the most directly political, and uses capital letters and references to Mark Twain as a way to condense big societal issues into a small package.

[LA Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This remarkable collection of poems puts love and loss and memory and imagination all in proper perspective. Sometimes heartbreaking, often darkly humorous, always crisp and articulated in a brave, fresh voice, each poem is a gem that catches the light and reflects it into your own heart. Really well done, indeed.

[Leanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning

Vivid imagery... I'm disturbed and delighted. I need to own a physical copy so I can highlight and underline and nod my head like I'm deep in conversation with a friend. Over too soon.

[Anna Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not a big poetry reader but I follow Don on Instagram. In one of his reels he poetically described dark red hair. It was so beautiful that I actually teared up and immediately went to buy this book. It did not disappoint.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely gorgeous collection of visceral and emotional poems, that wrap you in yearning, heartache and a touch of mysticism. Highly absorbing and affecting.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arcade

[Laurie Love · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely perfect! It's shelved right next to my Robert Frost.

[Daniel Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written. I just wish I liked poetry more and understood it better.

[Maureen Bocka · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful collection of poetry. I have been a fan of Don’s for a long time and I enjoyed this collection of poetry. I will think about these poems for a long time.

[Colleen Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poignant with a heavy dose of cheeky. Perfection.

[Lianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up

[Neil Patrick · Rating 1 out of 5]

Slop from an egomaniac.

[Briar · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful read. sometimes more fanciful, sometimes more heartbreaking. Might add it to my list of books to reread occasionally.

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful

Immensely re-readable - I raced through once to gobble up each poem so that I can go back and savor them again.

[Michelle Engel · Rating 5 out of 5]

While not without their tragedies and heartbreaks, the poems in this collection impress upon the reader the unmistakable beauty of our all-too-brief lives.

I had more than one favorite. “Yggdrasil,” however, I quoted long-hand in a note card and sent to my best friend. I loved that specific poem’s mythos of the human form, and its breathtaking imagery. Definitely a worthy book for any poetry-lover’s collection.

Recently, I’ve also taken an interest in poems using water in imagery or subject matter. There’s a glorious, irreverent water poem in this collection. It reminded me of a long-winded bit of speculation teenage-me engaged in, with my high school best friend, about the nature of God and water.

Don Martin uses more eloquence than we did, but OH, what a gift: to discover a poem that brings you back to your own youth, and your most treasured formative memories, like it was waiting all this time to show you the way.