Pine

by Julia Koets

Pine maps a secret relationship between two women in the South, where certain kinds of desire—queer desire, in particular—have historically been hidden and feared. Creating new landscapes of identity by reimagining form, modifying villanelles, sonnets, elegies, thank-you notes, and dictionary entries, Pine's imagistic and metaphorical associations between the body and the natural world form a queer ecology of longing and loss.

Genres: Poetry, Queer

62 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2021

Reviews

[Ricky Schneider · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pine is a richly layered, vivid expression of queer love in the American South. Koets fills her stanzas with stunning comparisons to nature and transportive references to the stars. Her aesthetic is acute and affecting. The poems are harmonious and often echo with familiar allusions of longing and desire. This is an indelible trip through the poet's mind and heart that takes the form of a morning walk or a night spent stargazing through a telescope of feeling.

I identified on so many levels with Koets' words and the emotions that she pulled out of me were aching to be recognized and confirmed. She references films like ET and Contact to enchanting effect. I found myself smiling at the lines as they tore pages out of my own nostalgia. This is a tender treat for the senses that stirred my mind and struck my heart. Such a beautiful book in every sense of the word.

[HB. · Rating 5 out of 5]

idk how to read poetry but like. this was nice. go lesbians! go nature!

[Vada Andrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

a couple favorites in there very cozy

[Brittney Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I also grew up queer in the rural south and so much of this collection connected with me on a deep and sometimes painful level. I felt myself reeling back to the open fields of Kentucky and Indiana. One of the best poetry books I've read in a long time.

[Shilo · Rating 5 out of 5]

"If I compare desire with deer: quietly / through snow at night, finding the scent // of every buried thing. In its defense / (I'm always defending desire), maybe / it's what we needed to get through."
🌲
From Pine by Julia Koets
🌲 I wrote 5 poems while reading this collection, which, to me, is the sign of a powerful collection. Does it make me want to write poetry? Yes? Keep it on the shelf.

[Madeleine · Rating 3 out of 5]

i adored it