Riot of Roses

by Brenda Vaca

This collection of poems, RIOT OF ROSES, is at once a confrontation, a confession, an embrace. It took me 44 years to love myself with abandon and to trust myself as a writer. I caught glimpses of this deep love throughout my life. I even preached about it on Sundays twice - in English and en Español - for over a decade as a pastor. Still, I was restrained and bound by my gender and by my culture, and literally collared by religiosity. Thankfully, Spirit planted a love for words and stories deep in me that took root and I found that the poet was still there. This book tells an ancient truth of survival, thriving, death, and the power of regeneration.

182 pages, Paperback

Published December 3, 2021

Reviews

[Nathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

To read this book is to experience a birthing, an unearthing, and entire life cycles of pain, suffering, joy, fulfillment, death, and reincarnation. Brenda Vaca’s “Riot of Roses” sees high clouds of divinity and dreaminess combine with raw realities of the grittiest ground below, creating a poetic journey that will be felt by your innermost soul, whether you grew up in Whittier, Watsonville, or anywhere else in this world. “Riot of Roses” makes the surreal as real as could be. The ancestors are still here, and, rest assured, they will be with you as you read this book. So, always remember to pay your respects. And let these roses riot. - Nate Abaurrea, 2022

[Liberty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate to get ahold of an advance copy of this book, and it's blowing me away. It is beautiful, raw, insightful, cutting -- and reverberating with perhaps the greatest lesson of all: finding our way to spaciousness and love for our entire selves.

[Mari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warning, you will need a box of tissues when reading this book. And the author/poeta is very correct, there will be times where you will need to step away and process your own journey. Highly recommend having a journal when reading the poems in this book. They can become quite cathartic, nostalgic, wholesome, and spiritually opening. A whole new perspective about the details of our lives.

[Lexi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book of poetry was a masterpiece I felt every emotion from laughter to tears of sadness it approached difficult issues with such delicacy. Though i had many favorite poems the one that i felt a deep connection to was Ode to the universe "What's important is when you love you, you make your own heart sing."

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved nostalgia and liked two or three poems but not enough to remember the title specifically.