Else It Was Purely Girls

by Angelo V. Suárez

Angelo V. Suárez' second poetry book.

Genres: Poetry

115 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Angelo V. Suárez, an MA Communication student at the University of Santo Tomas, is the author of two books of poetry: The Nymph of MTV and else it was purely girls . He has won prizes from the Carlos Palanca and Maningning Miclat Foundations, and the National Book Award from the Manila Critics Circle and the first Bridges of Struga International Poetry Prize from UNESCO and the Republic of Macedonia for Nymph . He is currently working in close collaboration with visual artists on two new books, s&wich and Dissonant Umbrellas: Notes Toward a Gesamtkunstwerk.

Reviews

[K.D. Absolutely · Rating 3 out of 5]

BuwanNgMgaAkdangPinoy
Aklat #24: ELSE IT WAS PURELY GIRLS by Angelo V. Suarez
(University of Santo Tomas Publishing House, 2005)

Forty well-written modern poems. They are divided into three parts: (1) "else it was purely girls" - 15 poems that have sexual theme. They are frank and not subtle even if the poet is using metaphors, mostly nature, to describe body parts; (2) "into such subtle centipedes" - 11 poems that have love as its theme. These are poems that are addressed by the use of pronouns 'you', 'your', 'yours', to the reader, so, just like the trick in romance novels, you might get the feeling that they are written for you; (3) "the geography of grammar" - 14 poems about anything, i.e., seemingly no theme at all. This is my favorite part because their meaning, both literal and figurative, especially figurative, is somewhat hard to understand. However, unlike other poets that I've read, they don't have the pretentious (writing-to-impress) vibes. They all feel natural: the choice of words, the free verses, their length or the lack of it. Suarez's poems are akin to a free-flowing river with you riding on a small shaking boat not knowing where the current will bring you but you are not afraid because you trust the sound of the boat's engine.

What could be surprising for some is the first part. The sexual innuendoes that I was not expecting to be used, although beautifully, at that early age. The poet was only 20 when this book came out in 2005. Or maybe it is the old-fashioned me (I'm 52 this year) because Lourd de Veyra, who wrote the scintillating introduction, and the two highly respected local poets, Rebecca T. Anonuevo and Ricardo M. de Ungria, did not find give any fuss about this.

I'm not sure I was able to grasp everything that the poet wanted to convey in each of his poems here but I am glad I read this book. This gives us an assurance that the Philippines will not be bereft of intellectual poet in the next decades when his mentors have passed away.

Thank you, Sir Gelo, for this very cool poetry book. With the glossy thick paper, nice youthful cover, and your witty verses, this book is worth keeping so you will be read not only by your generation but by the next ones that are still to be born. Please continue writing to keep the local poetry in English alive.

Also, thank you for making more people aware of the issues plaguing our MRT lines. Like what I told you when I visited on the 2nd day of your recent arrest: "ang galing mo!" And I told you that twice: one as a great poet (that day, I finished this book) and another for having to courage to stand up for what you believe is right.

#PinoyReadsPinoyBooks

[Naomi · Rating 3 out of 5]

else it was purely girls must be a big bundle of all of 20 year-old, college and fresh faced Angelo Suarez's memories and past loves. A big bulk of nostalgia in disguise of a poetry collection. What must he think of these poems now

[Zymon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Angelo Suarez certainly likes to demonstrate his lust, wit, and knowledge in poetry. In this second collection, published when he was 20 and still studying, each section strictly caters to a specific subject: the first for his lover, the second for writing, the third for politics and humor. The third amused me the most, the second befuddled me, the first terrified me, a queer acespec reader, with its cishet narrative. I can argue that the book is simply a fair match with the one that precedes it. Suarez knows how to twist language to whatever shape he wants it to look, and I can do nothing but be still as a writer showcases his talent.

[Oscar Maquito · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4.6/5

Gelo Was An Very Suspicious Author that he we're wanted to be an playwright than somebody's one to Believe But tutile to his writings as an playwright and an author.

For That, He Was Known as A "Bad Clamor" to his enormous words to his book like someone is pissing you off and rape you till dead.

And all of this Short Stories are All Fucking Awful and They All Helled Up To The Ground.

Then His Writing Were all Worked Inside His Dorm Room All Alone While Drinking An Hot Chocolate.

Also, The Word "Apocalypse" was Repeated All Of His Works...

The Meaning Of This Word Was The Revelation Will Came Effect to cause the earth to Shake...

And He Really Deserved to be Fucked Up to His Next Book by Next....

And He Was Really Hopes That My Nose Was bleeded me up while Reading 😂😂😂😂

[june]

"in the city of your mouth, it is raining. / how my fingers long to walk thru its streets // without umbrellas,"

"for how does one fall asleep / when on the garden of sleep a butterfly / with your name whispers to a flower / the secret of your sex / growing heavy with sweat / & the scent of dew?"

"your body is this city / etched on the palm of a luminous god"

"a splitsecond allegory // in space. imagine a face without / friction, the diction of sighted sutras // sans the acrid points of distance, / a stellar stance taken by skin."

[justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

bubbly, youthful, witty, and hedonistic—like all young boys once were. glad to have occupied this space of poems

[Karen Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Witty.