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dear warrior: a poetry collection
Georgia paints through her poetry and illustrations a story of courage, healing, and hope. A soul’s journey through mental illness, struggle, love, and the unknown, flowing from sunset to sunrise in her debut collection “dear warrior”.
Its three chapters are an emotional dipping into life’s dark, uncertain times and inspiration to fight for better days. She writes to remind every warrior they are never alone, of their resiliency traversing dark and light. That there is always magic left to be found, and even on the darkest nights, day break is never too far away.
Its three chapters are an emotional dipping into life’s dark, uncertain times and inspiration to fight for better days. She writes to remind every warrior they are never alone, of their resiliency traversing dark and light. That there is always magic left to be found, and even on the darkest nights, day break is never too far away.
- GenresPoetry
91 pages, Paperback
Published October 20, 2020
2 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
About the author
Georgia Stavs
2 books3 followersGeorgia Stavs is a Greek Canadian author, artist, educator, and wildflower. Her work is inspired by hope, healing, nature, and the magic of the universe.
After a life living in the shadows of anxiety and depression, her mission is to spread light and advocate for mental health awareness. Find her on Instagram @georgiastavs
After a life living in the shadows of anxiety and depression, her mission is to spread light and advocate for mental health awareness. Find her on Instagram @georgiastavs
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 8, 2021
I love the three sections to this book and the differences between them. Such a good collection of poetry. I hope Stavs releases another collection at some stage.
March 2, 2021
To start, this book is an absolute must-read, it's a beautifully composed journey of discovery, containing works that deal with topics such as love, heartbreak, battles of self (both inside and out), and many more. Not only does this book contain poems but the artwork paired with many of the pieces allowed her words to resonate even more. dear warrior is such a bright light that shines on those dark moments and there isn't one piece I haven't connected with. I love how much this book affirms the warrior inside.
April 27, 2021
Awesome with metaphor and form
After reading all the poetry in this collection, Georgia Stavs's first, it's apparent how gifted she is with metaphors and that she has an instinct for poetic form. In many moments, work of true beauty were also moments of pure clarity, because of how well Stavs constructed them.
Some of these moments had nothing to do with poetry. Dear Warrior and each of its sections begins with a "Dear Warrior" letter that Georgia Stavs wrote to the reader. Some of Stavs's best material is in these letters, such as, for example, on page 30, the beautiful and elegant description of the suffering we experience when life places us in a position to pursue change, wanted or unwanted. Then of course there are the drawings. Stavs's artwork is very beautiful, maybe my favorite element of the book. The drawing on page 61, at the outset of the "daybreak" section, moved me along with the surrounding poetry.
One interesting theme in the book is ink and tattoos. Along with "Bleeding" on pg 37, "ink" on pgs 45 is the second poem to address a tattoo with some significance. It's an unexpected theme to find in a book of healing poems... Perhaps Stavs had to go through removing a tattoo after ending a relationship. It would explain such lines as, "You cannot drill into my skin" (p45) and "these patterns on my skin will have no trace of your negativity" (p45). Perhaps it's something completely else, however; I won't ruin it for you.
I've mentioned form, and I just want to talk about that a moment. I don't mean traditional forms, though Stavs's does use those well, such as with " Night Sky" (p9). It's a tight, well-constructed little quatrain with subtle rhyme and addictive rhythm. Could be it's a named form, and I just don't know them well enough by sight, but either way, it's a gorgeous poem, and still not what I mean when I say "form". When I use that word, I'm talking about the general shape of a poem and how well it serves the poem's purpose. Some poets don't have good insight for form. Some, like Stavs, are form warriors. Go figure, right?
For example, in "The Tree Remembers," the narrative shows beautiful progression, from a universal expression, to the speaker's personal desire, to her growth, to self-realization and embracing of flaws, back to the universal, with an admonishment: "be kind" (p16). This is wonderful form, wonderful, how the speaker tugs the narrative and not the other way.
The form of "glimmer and shadow" (p33) is also stunning -- a seeming perfect form turned upside down by a single line. In the midst of this familiar narrative, built of lovely lines that follow a solid logic, we encounter a line whose nature and placement gives it a nearly surreal power.
I like Stavs's poetry best when she writes micropoems, like on p64, "broken, budding, blossom." Good emotion in this one, with the way she words the first stanza. Wonderful, slightly disturbing imagery to close it up. It's an effective piece.
I have another dozen poems I could gush about, but honestly, it all comes down to the same thing: this is a great collection and you should buy it. Stavs is super talented and works really hard to be a professional poet. She deserves your support and your patronage!
IG @poetonthelake
#donaspoetry
After reading all the poetry in this collection, Georgia Stavs's first, it's apparent how gifted she is with metaphors and that she has an instinct for poetic form. In many moments, work of true beauty were also moments of pure clarity, because of how well Stavs constructed them.
Some of these moments had nothing to do with poetry. Dear Warrior and each of its sections begins with a "Dear Warrior" letter that Georgia Stavs wrote to the reader. Some of Stavs's best material is in these letters, such as, for example, on page 30, the beautiful and elegant description of the suffering we experience when life places us in a position to pursue change, wanted or unwanted. Then of course there are the drawings. Stavs's artwork is very beautiful, maybe my favorite element of the book. The drawing on page 61, at the outset of the "daybreak" section, moved me along with the surrounding poetry.
One interesting theme in the book is ink and tattoos. Along with "Bleeding" on pg 37, "ink" on pgs 45 is the second poem to address a tattoo with some significance. It's an unexpected theme to find in a book of healing poems... Perhaps Stavs had to go through removing a tattoo after ending a relationship. It would explain such lines as, "You cannot drill into my skin" (p45) and "these patterns on my skin will have no trace of your negativity" (p45). Perhaps it's something completely else, however; I won't ruin it for you.
I've mentioned form, and I just want to talk about that a moment. I don't mean traditional forms, though Stavs's does use those well, such as with " Night Sky" (p9). It's a tight, well-constructed little quatrain with subtle rhyme and addictive rhythm. Could be it's a named form, and I just don't know them well enough by sight, but either way, it's a gorgeous poem, and still not what I mean when I say "form". When I use that word, I'm talking about the general shape of a poem and how well it serves the poem's purpose. Some poets don't have good insight for form. Some, like Stavs, are form warriors. Go figure, right?
For example, in "The Tree Remembers," the narrative shows beautiful progression, from a universal expression, to the speaker's personal desire, to her growth, to self-realization and embracing of flaws, back to the universal, with an admonishment: "be kind" (p16). This is wonderful form, wonderful, how the speaker tugs the narrative and not the other way.
The form of "glimmer and shadow" (p33) is also stunning -- a seeming perfect form turned upside down by a single line. In the midst of this familiar narrative, built of lovely lines that follow a solid logic, we encounter a line whose nature and placement gives it a nearly surreal power.
I like Stavs's poetry best when she writes micropoems, like on p64, "broken, budding, blossom." Good emotion in this one, with the way she words the first stanza. Wonderful, slightly disturbing imagery to close it up. It's an effective piece.
I have another dozen poems I could gush about, but honestly, it all comes down to the same thing: this is a great collection and you should buy it. Stavs is super talented and works really hard to be a professional poet. She deserves your support and your patronage!
IG @poetonthelake
#donaspoetry
October 25, 2020
It's a beautiful book. The poetry of Georgia Stavs resonated with me and I think it will resonate with most people. We all need words of empathy, courage, and kindness while fighting and healing from our personal battles.
November 1, 2020
What a beautiful book! I was hooked by the cover already, and as soon as I started the first page, I knew I was right about it! Georgia's poetry spoke to my heart and soul. By reading her words I went through a personal journey. A must read!
January 20, 2021
Magnificent
I really appreciated this collection. It was a quick read but each line had enough to it that I reread each page like 10 times and gotta en different connections to each piece. Which is part of what makes this collection so special. So relatable. So strongly penned.
I really appreciated this collection. It was a quick read but each line had enough to it that I reread each page like 10 times and gotta en different connections to each piece. Which is part of what makes this collection so special. So relatable. So strongly penned.
March 11, 2021
A beautiful book of poetry that I haven't stopped thinking about! If you like poetry, this book is a must-read! Georgia's words are powerful and passionate, and her poems really resonate with you long after reading. Can't wait for more!
April 12, 2022
“I am no stranger to fighting.”
This was an astounding collection for the fighter inside all of us. We push and we fight and we struggle. This collection honors that fight. Beautiful words.
This was an astounding collection for the fighter inside all of us. We push and we fight and we struggle. This collection honors that fight. Beautiful words.
December 13, 2020
Very professionally formatted. I enjoyed the theme throughout the book of being talked to as a warrior. This was a quick read with some profound poems.
April 24, 2022
amazing! even my grandmama will probably like this book as well!
September 6, 2024
Very professionally formatted. I enjoyed the theme throughout the book of being talked to as a warrior. This was a quick read with some profound poems.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews