We Borrowed Gentleness

by J. Estanislao Lopez

We Borrowed Gentleness interrogates the innateness of pain and forms of destruction—through natural disaster, through God, through family, and through the power structures and patriarchal violence that embeds itself in language and cultural memory. Poems critique and challenge the patriarchal narratives that dominate American history.

The poems leave the question open of whether man, men, a father and son, are redeemable after the surge of rising white nationalism in America. And yet, there are poems that find, still, bits of joy and perhaps a shred of hope.

By juxtaposing poems of louder narrative imagination with quieter poems that explore intimate failings within a family, often portrayed with a realist aesthetic, the book attempts to work through the essential fault in man, in men—in the structures that they design and maintain.

Genres: Poetry

100 pages, Paperback

First published October 11, 2022

Reviews

[Natalie D.C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

~I received an ARC of this novel as a part of Teen Ink's ARC Review Program in exchange for an honest review~
A raw, honest collection of poetry that explores themes of patriarchy, family, religion, and the devastating impacts of natural disasters. The verse in this debut collection is absolutely breathtaking, gorgeously creating rhythm and rhyme that only enhances the story these poems are telling. I do wish each part that this collection is divided into was a bit more specific with its separation of themes but, overall, this was a fantastic read from start to finish and has helped me discover a new favorite poet in J. Estanislao Lopez. My favorites of this collection are "Diaspora," "The Offering," "The Framework of an Imaginary Nation," and "The Maker."

[Michelle Deleon]

This poetic rhetoric is a masterpiece allowing art to takeover my reality. I bought this book wanting to read something a little different and this definitely accomplished everything I was looking for. The book is very much meditative and I definitely recommend to anyone who is into poetry.

[Liz Márquez · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully tender collection of poems, J. Estanislao Lopez makes you ache in the most bittersweet way.

[Heatherjoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The difficulty with a poetry collection is there are inevitably a handful I love, a good group that I think I get but wish I had someone to discuss with, and another set where I admire the word choices or feel but have no real idea what’s going on. But I think I have to accept that the f I’m going to read poetry. I was especially a fan of the biblical stories retold in this one - Solomon and Jepthath’s daughter and also of a few of the ones that touch on family history/trauma.

[Erin Clements · Rating 3 out of 5]

"There's a taste of ruin in the air that you're convinced has waited centuries for an articulation only you could orchestrate."

We Borrowed Gentleness is a lovely exploration of grief, religion, and family in the context of power structures and patriarchal violence, but it just didn't hit as hard as I wanted it to for me personally.

[rexrae · Rating 5 out of 5]

God, poetry really is a wonderful attempt at understanding human personhood as it always—it seems to me—never fails to dynamically push the fact that many, if not all, emotional experiences cannot just be disregarded. My favorite poems in this beautifully rendered collection are: Reasons to Despise Being Literary, Elongations, and The Ghosts of My Past Are in Disrepair.

[Laura Sackton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stunning.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, sorrowful, longing poems.