Versions of the Self

by Christy Birmingham

Imagine a shift to the way you see the world that arises through poetic narration. Imagine the world, at its base level, is a collection of selves. These selves collide, disperse, intermingle, and share themselves in lines of free verse. Such is the premise of Versions of the Self, poetry that assumes multiple types of selves exist and relate in ways that alter them. Each of the eight chapters looks at a different type of self, including the singular “I” and romantic interactions. These unique 80 poems definitely color themselves outside of the lines.

Genres: Poetry

104 pages, Paperback

First published May 15, 2015

About the author

Freelance writer, blogger, and author who lives in British Columbia, Canada.

I am the author of two poetry collections. The first one is Pathways to Illumination, available exclusively at Redmund Productions. My second book, Versions of the Self, is available on Amazon.

When I am not writing, I enjoy reading anything and everything. Walking on local trails, relaxing with loved ones, and sipping tea are also personal pleasures.

Reviews

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why This Book
On my blog, ThisIsMyTruthNow via WordPress, I have a Friday segment entitled 'Author Alert,' where I spotlight a novelist I've met through blogging. Christy and I connected a few months ago and I volunteered to read her book, as it was something different than a normal work of fiction. I used to write poetry and I enjoy her blog, so I dove in.

Overview
The ~115 page book is a collection of 80 poems organized by 8 sections, all relating to the concept of 'self.' It covers individual views, relationship views, sadness and joy; the full range of emotions. At times, it was something light and easy to comprehend, but at others, it was diverse and complex. Some of the lines call to you, urging you to compare your own life to the narrators. It's personal and introspective -- all the things I like when someone shares part of the self. Given this is a different type of work, I'm not writing a normal review where I cover plot, characters and setting. Instead, I offer a few lines that really spoke to me:

“I want to alter my recipe,

Lighter on the ridicule and

Heavier on the gratitude

If I am here to speak,

My tongue learns to pronounce properly

The language forming within me.”

Poetry is often difficult for many people as it is abstract and full of metaphor. It compares things we don't necessarily understand,  but in this one, you'll find something different. Something that gives you the freedom to find varying levels of meaning that speak to you as the story evolves through each subsequent poem. The concept of the self... whether it's how you view yourself today versus tomorrow, is clearly intense and complex. Ms. Birmingham pulls no punches telling you what the narrator is feeling, what's real and what's on her mind -- whether it's the emotional reaction to a situation or the physical impacts of pain and fear. But there's also hope and inspiration, packaged in both obvious and hidden ways.

You could read this all in one sitting in about 60-minutes or you could read a chapter each night over a week. There's depth, maturity and intensity in the words. It's one of those great opportunities to hear a voice with power behind it and analyse your own thoughts and actions. Take a chance, it's worth it.

About Me
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I’m Jay, an author who lives in NYC. My debut novel, Watching Glass Shatter, can be purchased on Amazon. I write A LOT. I read A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll find the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge – words and humor. You can also find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Thanks for stopping by. Note: All written content is my original creation and copyrighted to me, but the graphics and images were linked from other sites and belong to them. Many thanks to their original creators.

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[Fiza Pathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Versions of the Self’ by enchanting and brilliant poet Christy Birmingham is a masterpiece and a great mood uplifter in verse.

I was in need of some soul-searching poetry during this hectic month and I’m so glad I took my chance with ‘Versions of the Self’ and managed to enjoy it and be enthralled by the poems contained therein. I agree with Birmingham and her fans that ‘her view of the world is unique’ and that is what makes her poems on love, love loss, heartbreak, friendship, trauma, marriage, etc all the more alluring to the reader. You indeed start looking at the world around you in a different way and are able to meditate on the things one normally takes for granted – like the way a boyfriend’s hair falls down on his shoulders, the warmth of a glass of healing green tea, a best friend’s twirling gait, flowing water upon one’s hip while in the shower, etc. I found these revelatory in nature not only about Birmingham as an exceptionally gifted poet but also about myself and the kind of person I am, especially what love has meant to me and how it influences my life today and will do so in the future.

I have always been fond of love poetry and was glad to find Birmingham’s collection replete with them. I especially am fond of love poems related to heartbreak, emotional trauma and cheating in love. I found all this and much more in this scintillating collection and they have been invigorating me this whole week while at work. From the love poems mentioned in this book, I enjoyed and regaled in ‘Within A Few Feet’ which was about sunken ships and love stories, ‘Your Heart Opens’ which was about the physical closeness of young lovers, ‘Tree Branches at My Ribs’ which talks about the pressures of more physical intimacy and ‘If We Go Back’ which was concise and yet quite precise about how one can feel warmer in a corner alone than with a person who has cheated and abused his lover, et al.

I found those poems really speaking to my soul in unique ways which other poetry collections in the past have not managed to do. Kudos to the talented and skilful Birmingham on that mission accomplished to perfection! But this collection contains lovely poems about friendship and second time love as well both of which I believe in thoroughly and truly. I especially loved ‘We Become Friends’ which reminded me greatly about this first best friend I had at school right from the ICSE Kindergarten till the 4th grade who was the very epitome of true friendship and surreal beauty and exquisite majesty as mentioned in this poem. She was a masterpiece in human form, a true work of art and I thank Birmingham for reminding me about her after all these years. I see this old friend of mine in my dreams as a ghost many times and I truly value her short but everlasting friendship with me. Indeed, as Birmingham rightly puts it, ‘Friendship is not easily earned, but one can find treasure in its placement.’ And yes, Natasha’s placement on my dusty old shelf is one that I value a lot.

The social themes mentioned in the collection are also worthy of report like ‘See My Sense of Self’ which is about social media friendships and ‘Equality and Vision’ which is about Women’s Day. I also loved the poems alluding to painting or paintings, especially ‘Painted Mountains’ which reminded me so much of my own residence in Badlapur on the outskirts of Mumbai with the hills of that beautiful and green region as a backdrop. Just like the robin bird in Birmingham’s mesmerizing poem, there is a rare robin that visits my home there in the late afternoons. That poem sings to my soul because my personal home there in Badlapur is very dear to me and a childhood goal achieved at age 31 without the help of any husband, boyfriend, father, uncle or any other male figure in my life.

I loved ‘Backyard Musings’ too which was about motherhood and nature, which also inadvertently reminded me about the time I used to play and run around like a crazy Kindergarten school girl with my first best friend Natasha and her building friends and elder brother in the fresh green grass of her expansive rich lawn. Since I was tiny, the grass reached up to my chest and like the mother in Birmingham’s poem, my young mother too would stand and stare at the fun her only child was having back in the early 1990s when Bandra West was still more green than ‘modernized’.

Pulsing with emotion, sublime and heart-stirring are the phrases and words I would use to describe the book ‘Versions of the Self’ by Christy Birmingham – do grab a copy of this indie poet’s book today and feel refreshed and re-vitalized! You will smile, cry, laugh, muse over and sigh plenty of times as the poet’s words hover over the horizon of your past, present and future through the various selves that are hers and which also sometimes are ours too! I love Birmingham’s style which is so novel and fascinating that I hope to read more of her poetry titles in the near future!

You will find many of your own selves in these poems than you will find in any other indie collection. Birmingham reminds me a lot of Gulzar, our country’s top lyricist and poet as well as late Bhupen Hazarika who is known in India as the Bard of the Brahmaputra and was a national treasure in music, poetry, playback singing and was also an exceptionally brilliant music director and composer. Enthralling indeed and highly beguiling in nature, Christy Birmingham has excelled in this role as a scholarly poet.

‘Versions of the Self’ gets 5 stars from me! Well done!

[Sarah Potter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christy Birmingham has written her poetry collection Versions of The Self from the first-person viewpoint because it’s about her personal journey. At first I found the constant use of the word “I” off-putting, but my initial reaction fast metamorphosed into feeling privileged, as a reader, to share in Christy’s honest account of putting herself back together, having had a relationship with someone who did his best to destroy her.

She tells of her deep love for this man and his gradual undermining of her confidence through mind-games and abuse, before leaving her for another woman. The form of manipulation she describes him inflicting upon her, is an archetypical use of what psychologists call “gaslighting”, in which the perpetrator’s tactics of manipulation ultimately cause the victim to no longer trust her own judgment. In fact, Christy does have a BA in Psychology and it’s possible that her area of study has retrospectively contributed towards her ability to express in words her traumatic experience.

What follows is an account of a woman lying in fragments, who must somehow learn to see herself as a whole person again and think herself worthy of love, or able to trust another to give of her love to him. It makes incredibly emotive reading, as she makes a detailed examination of the fragments, draws them together, starts to trust her own judgment, and rediscovers joy. It’s a redefining of her as a person, as she comes to accept that she cannot undo her experiences or lose the memory of them, but she can learn to move on beyond them and be a valid human being, with so much to give to the world. In fact, what I loved about Christy’s account was that not for a moment did she wallow in self-pity. Often, I wanted to give her a big hug and say “you are so, so brave. Go for it, gal!”

This poetry collection makes such an emotive read and would speak volumes to people who have or still are experiencing what Christy describes. I loved the way the writing flowed along in free verse with such forward momentum, occasionally pausing on its journey for detailed contemplation of a tiny detail. Christy has such a unique way of organising words and a fresh way of describing exactly what she means, but from a lateral slant.

A highly recommended read.

[Buck Edwards]

"Versions of the Self" moves beyond a collection of poetry, it penetrates into a self-awareness that beckons the reader to give ourselves The Mirror Test. How many times have we, too, followed this road of struggle and redemption? And in doing that we hand our travel plans to Birmingham at the first page. There are no presumptions in Birmingham's poems, only pure honesty, and when we aren't being reminded of Sylvia Plath, then we are reminded of the Biblical woman at the well, whose life is forever transformed.
Her poem, "World of Windows" paints such a pleasing picture of calm acceptance--"In a blanket that wrapped / Around us all / With clarity, not criticism / With unity, not unapologetic anger. / I welcome that dream again.
And though "Versions of the Self" can bristle with honesty, Birmingham's imagery remains sharp to the point of endearing--"Your smile got lost in the trash can / When I threw out the wilted roses."
To say we have never traveled these same roads is to cheat ourselves of our own honesty. But there is redemptive power here too, and Birmingham leads the way.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

These poems resonated with me when I read them, and they’re still resonating. There are so many feelings that can be found here, so many relationships, so many selves.

I loved the poems that celebrated freedom and could at times feel my soul soaring along with the words. Then different poems made me stop and think while bringing me back to Earth.

The poem, “Within a Few Feet,” shows the regrets that hold us back and keep us earthbound, all while freedom is only a few feet away in the form of seagulls tempting the author to fly.

Some poems show the gradual process of healing before being able to move on, then we come to, “Made to Write,” where the writer discovers her purpose and “I Stand Here,” showing her growing confidence with this last stanza: “I stand alive,/Healthy and complete, as/My branches extend into fresh air around me.”

We also see the joy of new love and the fear of that love diminishing or disappearing. Questions and disappointments surface, but then there’s always that chance for freedom and soaring again. “You, Colors, and Realization” shows this perfectly after stating “You were once a masterpiece”:

“Today, your colors fall to a wooden floor,/While I run a paintbrush under the kitchen tap/To clean the bristles and/Paint a new day,/Made of colors that I alone choose.”

Anyone who has ever had doubts while in a relationship, and I’m guessing that’s everyone, will find themselves here. Times of insecurity and despair combine with a blooming confidence and an ecstasy for life, giving the reader an overall feeling of positive energy and tingling inspiration.

We see the friendships we form with different people, how we push each other, help each other, inspire each other, and push each other away.

The theme of freedom floats through the pages, and it’s not always meant as freedom from a particular relationship. There’s a stronger sense of freedom from fear, freedom from anything holding you back from what you’re meant to do.

We see this in “Flight Path” with these lines: “You are more than your drenched feathers…You are meant to fly, I know you can, and/It is the moment when you turn can into will/That I will savor the most.”

With all of these poems and inspiring words, we see the bravery it takes to step forward into each day and the exhilaration that’s felt when we leave our fear behind. Everyone who reads this collection will see different versions of herself or himself, the effects we have on each other, and all the energy that can be felt when we find a way to be true to ourselves.

Highly recommended to people who love to read poetry and to people who have never read poetry. To everyone who has ever been filled with doubts or regrets, love and joy.

[Carol Balawyder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christy Birmingham’s latest collection of poems takes off where her book Pathways to Illumination left off. In Versions of Self Christy Birmingham offers hope, inspiration and celebrates the strength of healing. In her own words her objective in writing this collection is “…(to) long for words I can to heal someone else.” This is what good poetry does and Birmingham succeeds on many levels.
I have always found reading poetry a catalyst for my own writing, particularly in its ability to fill my mind with inimitable images. Here’s an example:
Take off the uniform that smothers
Your hopes for a stable embrace, and
Listen for the words you are sure to hear,
When you dance one day, when
You tilt your lips into a smile.
If you’ve followed Christy Birmingham’s blog, you know that she is a feminist and her poem Equality and Vision is a tribute to Women’s Equality Day, August 26.
Honor and represent the women who
Have brought us to the path we travel today.
Like a good wine, this collection is to be savored; unlike a good wine, her metaphorical bottle is always full ready for you to return to, each time enlightening you in a different way.
Do not add despair to your breath today sums up the optimism in this collection.

[Judith Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

In her second collection of poems, Christy Birmingham continues to inspire and encourage. Versions of the Self is organized into sections or "selves" that allow the poet to share wisdom from various aspects of her personal journey. These lines from Sense of Myself are an example of the inner strength that runs through these poems:

"Here is my sense of self,
Here I am strong and focused,
Putting my needs first.
I realize that it is a proud moment."

Whether the poems are exploring hurtful memories or moments of quiet triumph, this book gives us insight into our own selves. I highly recommend Versions of the Self -- a collection of poems that readers will want to visit again, like a good friend.

[M.J. Mallon · Rating 4 out of 5]

My rating: 4.5 stars.
This is a wonderful collection of personal poetry which gives a fascinating insight into the concept of self and how our selves are affected by and change due to outside factors such as our loves, vulnerability, family, friendships, and relationships.

It doesn’t shy away or hide from difficult themes, the words are there for the reader to see and interpret in free verse which flows like a river.

I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of poetry. It’s a little different, quite deep and intense in parts and fascinating throughout.

Would highly recommend.

[Jennifer (Jaye) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A beautiful collection of poems"

I read and re-read a lot of the poems, deep and meaningful poetry from start to finish. Christy shows you a different way to relate to her poetry and I went through an emotional and uplifting journey my favourites being "Tender Hands" and "As we walk together" they really touched me. I found myself sailing through the pages before I knew it the book was over. Thank you Christy, a fabulous read that I will definitely keep and your words will stay with me.

[Robbie Cheadle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Versions of the self is quite an extraordinary book of poetry. The poet, Christy Birmingham, has a very unique style of writing which I found very intriguing. I also thought this style worked exceptionally well for the content of this book which is all about different versions of self. It imitates the flow of thought but in an easy to read and fascinating way.

I felt I would like to get to know the poet as I read her poems. While she does write about a mixture of various emotions, there is a thread of sadness or melancholy that runs through many of them and I felt that the writer had suffered pain in her past relationships. The poems become lighter and happier as you move through the book and I found myself hoping that this is a reflection of Christy’s life.

These are a few of the verses I found the most compelling in this beautiful book:

“You direct me forward but

I want to go back,

Back to when we were wrapped in

Clean sheets, before the

Lies melted on your tongue.”

From Lack of Direction

***

“You were once a masterpiece

Now, your colors run down the fabric of

My past,

Shades of yellow and orange that have

Grown thick in consistency,

As the price of fine art rises with inflation.”

From You, Colors, and Realization

***

“You came to see me at a pillow rich with creativity,

Where I had hope beyond reason for tugging at my heartstrings.

You know exactly which strings to play on your

keys to keep me smiling.

From You, Unique.

[Patsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book of thought-provoking and intriguing poetry.

[John Fioravanti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christy Birmingham's "Versions of the Self" was a delightful experience as her imaginative metaphors drew me into the depths of her feelings. This is far more than a book of poetry, as it takes on on a journey of discovery of self. Birmingham's work is fresh and it is gripping. Highly recommended.

[Willow Croft · Rating 5 out of 5]

(I read the print copy.)

I've followed Christy Birmingham's blog for years, and, likewise, she's been a strong supporter of mine. I think she was one of, if not the first, who purchased my book of poetry when I self-published (Oh, Createspace, how I miss thee!). But this is the space for honest reviews, and, being an honest, ethical, straight-arrow type, with a healthy dose of blunt forthrightness, here goes my honest review. (Please, stick with me to the end of the review.)
I wasn't sure how I felt about this book, the first time I read through it. I felt somewhat removed from the poems within, and I couldn't understand why. As a woman, going through what seems a similar journey of self-transformation, why was I feeling unsettled? Why didn't it grab me straight from the beginning?
It wasn't until I sat down to write this review that I realised what was giving me this sense of disquiet. I spend a lot of time in other realms. The theme of my own poetry book is all about journeys to other worlds. Alternate dimensions, astral travel, tandem dreaming, visits to fairyland--however you want to classify it, it has very little to do with the "real" world. And my short stories reflect more of the same--fantastical, surreal, and a little escapist (or so I hope!). I spend so much time up here in my head, or a million miles from it, that I'm not very present. I constantly receive gentle instructions to become more grounded, to visualise coming down into my feet. But it's not a place where I'm most comfortable. I want the deep vastness of space; of the ocean. Of anywhere but here on Earth.
Christy's poems reflect exactly that sort of grounded earthiness I'm constantly trying to hide from. Being present, being in the moment. Being real, no matter how much it hurts. Or how confusing it is. From my way-out-there, interdimensional traveller perspective, I see her as a very present poet. And I'm also not used to reading that in poetry.
And it's a necessary, and lovely, stability in the rareness of the feeling. With each poem brings another block to lay on the foundation under my feet. As a woman, as a denizen of this planet no matter how much I dream myself otherwise, she connects me back to the Earth under my feet; to my own "Version of Self" that connects with lines of her poems.
"Gliding under Water" reminds me of the simplicity of being a young girl in a pool; a time where my sensory experiences were more immediate. Though her work is titled "Versions of the Self," I see it more as a stripping away of those versions to achieve a strong core, bringing us along with her as she goes back to basics. To having strong roots. And water, ironically, also helps root the reader in a very real, relatable experience of loss and change, in her poem "Within a Few Feet". We have no choice to be present right along with the poet, because her pain is ours. It's a pain that, sadly, lies in most women, and maybe the human race in general.
Lastly, she reminds me that it's okay to be down here, in the muck and mire that is Earth, to "start at the bottom" (from "Bottom of the Waterway"). Because it's only from there that we will learn to fly.

[Mahesh Nair · Rating 5 out of 5]

All my life I thought that my emotional reliance on someone was a foregone conclusion, and that my self had to connect with another’s to inject coherence into my life’s abstract manuscript. In several unique ways in Versions of the Self, Christy Birmingham informs that the self can last 'brutally independent' longer without such reliance or even when it’s relying on someone. In "Gliding Under Water," she writes, “I am gliding under the waters and my vision is remarkably clear while my body washes with liquids that contain no mixture of you.”

Christy has succinctly touched on several emotions; that we don’t pause and ponder enough to rationalize. We sense myriad versions of several people, and the only way we could connect with their selves is if it’s a soul-led journey from us, without a destination in mind, in which case, no car had driven my expectations to them. Shake hands, therefore, seeking nothing but simplicity.

“And now it seems he takes the last space in my life, outside of my heart’s walls, and miles from my reality” - she says in "The Capital." How fierce this self-representation is, so unyielding, that it draws its strength from the innate soul-gem.

Since I’m close to my mother - everyone is and must be - these lines from "As We Walk Together" aimed for my heartstrings: “I feel you take my hand as we walk forward, together, and we inhale the scents that disclose a recent rainfall has occurred.” It reminded me of my childhood and those precious moments I so wish to return to, over and again. But, this heartwarming book wants me to return to my self, even away from the self that gave me birth because my self is the primary cure for all my worries, like the primary network that doesn’t charge out of pocket. My soul is my self and, therefore, always covered.

This is a must-have book for anyone who wants to go beyond the mundane 'identify yourself' literature. Sans going beyond, we are nothing but a body without life.

[Carolee Croft · Rating 5 out of 5]

Versions of the Self plays around with the concept of different selves, not trying to pin down or define the self, but dazzling the reader with the many colorful possibilities of human existence. These lines reveal the pensive and imaginative mind of a poet who is rooted in reality but gifted with the talent of describing everyday events with fantastic flair.

The poems speak of moments in life that we can all relate to: the love of a child for their parent, the sudden yearning for a crush, the heartbreak of rejection, the self-confidence that comes from releasing fear. Christy provides fitting and beautiful metaphors for all of these, making it appear like each one is not just different side of the self, but a whole other world.

Some of my favourite poems were ones where the 'self' tries to see beyond her current situation and imagine the possibilities, as in this excerpt from "The Field of Poppies":

I bend down to pick the red flowers at
My feet, and I wonder at a day when
Tears do not stain my cheeks.
I wonder how the words will sound,
I wonder who will hold my hand then.

These poems give the impression of someone young, optimistic, hopeful. The different selves can be separated by seemingly insurmountable gulfs, but at the same time these poems speak of a strong connection, not only between people but also with nature and even the stars beyond our world.

[Amy Caudill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, spiritual work

I was amazed at how much so many of the poems in this collection resonated with me. It was as if the author was actually inside my head at times. However, even the poems that touched on things I have never personally experienced were so well-crafted, so full of imagery, that I felt drawn in as if I was part of the experience.
I bookmarked a few passages for myself that I know I'll want to read again when I need a bit of encouragement or inspiration in my day. I would recommend this book to anyone, especially women, going through tough times or just wanting an uplifting read.

[Didi Oviatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 rating

Poetry for me is hit and miss. I either love it, or I hate it. It either pulls me in and makes me think and feel deeply, or it puts me off completely. Not very often do I find middle ground. Oddly enough I was reluctant to read this book because I follow Christy's work on When Women Inspire. I love her approach, as well as the unique and resounding subjects she often tackles. She's inspiring and supportive, and honestly I was a little worried that reading a book of her poetry might disappoint after I've become quite fond of her stuff up until this point. I've even had Versions of the Self downloaded on my Kindle for months, just waiting for me to buck up and face my lingering fearful curiosity.

Luckily for me, it didn't disappoint! Not even close. It was far from disappointing, and I feel even more fond of Christy Birmingham and her writing because of it!

Versions of the Self is categorized by way of events and emotions. Each page tells a story of it's own, in a very creative way. One thing that I love about this poetry is that it has sort of an abstract feel, yet the emotion poured in also gives it a traditional, old fashion type squeeze. For lack of better words I found it well-rounded, solid.

In this book Christy reveals a side of herself that most people hide. The bravery it took to expose the level of vulnerability here is absolutely commendable. Her heart and soul was tossed around by relationships, both with a lover, herself, and family loss. The angle she took to describe these events and emotions was different than anything I've ever read.

Christy has a way of using words to describe physical objects in her own metaphors. It's such a breath of fresh air to read page after page where every way of thinking is out of the box. This is no cookie cutter book of poetry, and I love it that much more because of this fact. Keep making magic with words, Christy! This is truly your gift!