Originally published on Reedsy Discovery.
Bloom’s debut collection is immediately reminiscent of Kaur and Lovelace as she combines pithy thoughts with extended pieces which demonstrate Bloom’s talent for creating raw and honest imagery.
At times, this similarity let the collection down. My issue with the work of Kaur and Lovelace is how often the words read as discarded thoughts instead of poetry consciously crafted to evoke emotions within its readers. I often wish the four line poems in this collection, and others, were fleshed out – explored further – because instead I am left uncomfortably wanting.
Yet, Bloom illustrates a gorgeous talent for words in many of the pieces in Signs of Life. I loved the idea of the narrative journey – from Trauma to Hope. A journey one could experience in the short space of a year, or across a lifetime. The strongest chapters were Trauma, Grief, Loss and Hope.
Bloom drew metaphorical blood in nice boys
In fact I wish I felt as guilty
because resentment at my own
paralysis
stings
burns
from the place you invaded me
to the back of my throat
and tugs on heartstrings in for your children.
She reminds us all of our past heartaches in tears:
on the night you left
the ocean
licked
your footprints clean
from the sand
and I thought of you
as your sandcastles
faded
from shore
like lost ghosts
and to my unborn daughter is a beautiful reminder of the fears and hopes which accompany creation.
Thus, despite lacking originality in places, Bloom is clearly finding her voice, and I look forward to watching her blossom.
I write about love, lust, struggle, survival, fickle things, dreams and the stars. And anything in between. You can read more of my writing at My Screaming Twenties
I released my debut collection of poetry and prose in May 2019, Between the Trees which is available to buy, below. I am currently working on my second collection.
Between the Trees:
Go Dog Go Café 