And the Garden Is Me

by Kate Young

This is a collection of poems written by Kate Young over her first five years of motherhood. Kate is a poet, currently residing in South Carolina. "And the Garden Is Me" comes from a poem entitled, "Mama," in which Kate has a dream that her daughters are in a modest backyard garden, gathering up produce to pass out to the neighborhood. Miraculously, the vegetables they pluck from the garden are immediately replenished. The poem explores the metaphor of a mother as the garden itself. And the entire collection of poems was birthed out of this concept. Kate views this book as the scrapbook she will never make; an archive of the earliest years of her children's lives and the process of becoming "Mama."

94 pages, Paperback

Published November 22, 2022

Reviews

[Kate Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wrote it and I’m proud of myself lol

[Georgia Stickler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Getting cozy with a reread!!! Kate’s words have always been so special to me as I spend a few of my most developmental years alongside her while living in Anderson- My relationship with the idea of God has been uncertain at times over the past four years, but I’ve always felt most connected to a higher power and to life through art and poetry. This is extremely true for what Kate shares with the world! It will always mean so much to me- Love you queen 💌

[Dani Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely adored reading and pondering over this frank account of motherhood and life. I had to reread several of the poems several times over just for the profoundness of them to sink into me. Well done!!👏🏼👏🏼

[Anna Duncan · Rating 5 out of 5]

revisiting a favorite of mine. kate, you are so talented 🤍

[Abi Tschupp · Rating 5 out of 5]

I simply love this book. I’ve followed Kate for years on Instagram and though we’ve never met in person, I feel deeply connected to her. I read her words and find myself often saying “yes! This is it. This is what’s been bubbling within me, too.”

She gives such beautiful language to very real, very hard things. But she also doesn’t gloss over the beautiful and joyful things. She paints them all in equal light - in honest pictures that truly anyone can relate to.

This collection of poems inspires me to keep writing my own, to keep loving those around me deeply, and to keep seeing things the way God has created me to see them. I highly recommend sitting with this book and letting it shape you and encourage you, let it wrap you up and remind you that you’re not alone.

[Dani DiMuzio · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s rare that I want to read a book of poetry all the way through in one sitting. Usually I prefer to pick out a few to read when I’m in a pensive or creative mood. But when I started reading “And the Garden Is Me”, I could. Not. Put. It. Down. Kate Young has somehow put into words the pain and desires in my heart I could never have voiced. This book is raw, and hopeful, and angry, and sweet — just like every woman I’ve ever known.

If you are or have ever loved a woman, this book is for you.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I wonder what
The pace of my chase is
How heavy my run feels
On the floor of heaven.
How many soggy blankets
I have dragged into
The bedroom of God.”

This book will require multiply moments of silence to all for the tears to trickle down your face. Every page is filled with hope, wonder, grief and honesty. Such a beautiful book.

[Baylee Mauro · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful and relatable collection. The motherhood, spirituality, and identity collected here feel like the curious work of sanctification that happens as life changes and shifts us and we try to explain that to our former selves. I dogeared so many favorites that the book doesn’t lay completely flat anymore. I’m so glad Kate put these out into the world to share.

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kate paints a portrait of motherhood that is as honest as it is beautiful. To use her words, I swallowed it whole.