Firstly, this is not a poetry collection but, as you must have gathered from the title: We
Are Poetry: Lessons I Didn’t Learn in a Textbook by Kym Moore is a book about poetry
made up of real lessons the Author learned about poetry. It’s a book packed with a
retelling of experiences lived and wisdom gained. And we, the readers, are invited to
listen and share a spark to continue the conversation about poetry.
Secondly, I’m merely 65% done with the book, and my heart is imploding with a desire
to tell you about it. I will finish it before I know it, but even at 65%, I have an excellent
idea about this book.
I purchased the digital copy early in the year and read it on and off, struggling with the
print size on my phone. Not fair.
And all my attempts at having it read to me (iPhone function I adore) were in vain. But
some miracle happened of late, and I breezed through so many chapters. But let me
warn you: the beauty of this book is in chewing the words slowly. It’s like a slow,
soul-cooked meal that demands introspection. Perhaps while sipping tea.
“We are simply a constellation of bodies swirling in a giant golden teacup
of human magic.” — Author Kym.
Throughout the book, you will discover the many beautiful ways this Author’s mind is a
well of inspiration in the ways she pairs aesthetically pleasing ideas into marriage:
between science and poetry, tea and poetry, an empty box and poetry, innovation and
poetry, between you and me and poetry, and so on and so on. Golly, this is a refreshing
way to root for, understand, and let poetry embrace the “whole” world. Because,
indeed, we are poetry!
As you read, your eyebrows will get a good workout, as will your heart: in amazement
and disbelief. So be ready for this. Mine got a good workout with one story I will relate
as concisely as possible. I must tell you about this episode Author Kym Moore
encountered in the first year she was selected as one of the World Book Night
volunteers for the U.S.
“The concept behind World Book Night (held annually on April 23) was to give away
free, special-edition copies of books written by well-known authors to people who were
not avid readers. The goal was to encourage and motivate these recipients to read
more. During my first year as a World Book Night volunteer, I chose to give away “I
Know Why The Caged Bird Sings” by my favorite poet Maya Angelou. I offered my free
copies (20 books) to an organization I thought would take advantage of this gift and
opportunity. The response I received was not quite what I expected, especially since,
believe it or not, this organization’s mission is to combat adult illiteracy.”
That organization’s program director declined the donation due to the book’s reading
level!
“Her “adult” clients were reading on a 5th-grade level, and my book was on an 8th-grade reading level.”
A top administrator over the county’s literacy program unapologetically placed learning
limitations on her clients!
“a question came to my mind: “How do you know you are oppressed if you do not
realize you are because others make you believe that you aren’t?/
“to me, it is no more than mental imprisonment that physically impairs them. Could this
be a facet of institutionalized pluralistic ignorance I read about…?/
“How can we continue to allow biased influences and persuasiveness to breach the line
of ethics and form a territory of manipulation and deception? I hope the clients served
by this organization, and others like it, are more determined to go further than the
reading cap this agency has placed on them.”
Please read more stories like this in the book. Your heart will thank you, and you’ll
come to see the situation of illiteracy with new insight.
This book, We Are Poetry: Lessons I Didn’t Learn in a Textbook by Kym Moore, is a
valuable reference to pursue informed conversations around literacy and poetry. It
will give you insight into ways to be proactive for a world that reads. It will work as a
tool to teach and enlighten us all in the fight against illiteracy, functional illiteracy,
aliteracy, and disparity.
Poetry is dynamic, alive, and thriving.
Poetry, just like music, helps us try to make sense of things that seem futile and
incomplete.
I raise my tea cup to this Author/Poet/beautiful ambassador of poetry, and by around
65% of the book, your heart will be well content too. Five stars from a satisfied
reader in Japan.
I submitted this book review to Amazon dot co dot jp. I hope it shows on the
dot com homepage and does what an honest review could do. Books like this
one are empowering to the human race.
Thanks for writing it, Kym from Behind the Pen. It took me a while to get to it,
but hey, better late than never.
Thanks for reading it, dear friends. I bless you all and as always, I wish you
miracles.
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Thanks for sharing this review Selma.
Sadie 💕 It’s my pleasure to do this. It’s my honest review. So glad you found it if value. Bless you always. Xo
Thanks 🙏🏼
Wonderful book review. You have to nice interest. Very important recommend this review.
😊 thanks, Raj. It’s a great book, full of first hand wisdom. XoXo
This sounds like a great book, Selma – thanks for the recommendation!
Huge congratulations to the Author. It’s a book I’m happy to recommend. Thanks for reading, Ingrid. Xo
Now, i know i need to get Kym’s book..i just learned about her recently and saw this book on her blog and with my TBR list so long, i need to put this one…plus we have the same delima of leaving a review on amazon..sometimes it appears, sometimes it doesnt..sigh..😔
You are so sweet Mich! Thank you for your kind comment! Cheers! 🥰🦋🤩
Your welcome Kym…i will let you know of my thoughts too when i finish reading it..
Awww Michelle, you are so sweet and I honestly appreciate your support my dear! Have a wonderful week! 🤗✨🥰
Mich, it’s everything I wrote it is. And I know you will find things that speak to you personally too. Thanks for your interest in this one after this post. Bless you.
Oh my gosh Selma, girlfriend, you have left me absolutely speechless. I am so humbled and grateful for this most amazing, yet detailed review of my book. 🙏🏼 You had me pumped up and in so much awe until it made me want to go back and reread what I wrote! 🌞💖🥰 Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart my dear friend. You are truly a mean reading machine and I especially applaud you for reading the digital version ‘on your phone.’ Honey, I can’t do that. If I download an eBook I must read it on a big ole computer screen, if I can’t get the book in hardcopy. My eyes won’t let me! LOL
But again, you bless me and honor me with your review. While amazon.com didn’t populate your Amazon review, I still appreciate you taking the time to purchase, read, and review my work. Bless you Selma my dear friend, and thank you so very much! You have no idea how much this means to me! Have a FANtabulous week my dear! 🤗🙏🏼🥰🦋🤩
🎩 Funny, Kym. For a while I was speechless too after reading each chapter.
Kym, the review’s probably too long. But really, couldn’t curb my enthusiasm. All the details I wanted to include…And I didn’t even mention the lessons at the end of each chapter. People need to know this. Oh, my!! A glorious book you birthed.
Reading on my phone is hard. And there are so many ‘words’ in your book… 🤭 it was challenging. I recommend this book in hard copy. My eyes, my eyes! I was going crosseye back there. I still haven’t recovered.
You too, dear Kym. Have a funtabulous rest of the week, dearest one. Xoxo.
My pleasure, 🙇🏽♀️
Selma, you are truly a beautiful gift and God bless you my dear friend. Regardless of how long or short your review was, I was ecstatic that you took the time to write a review and found the contents encouraging and relevant. The hard copy is bigger and much easier to read. In all actuality, I am more of a fan of hard copies because of my eyes. Plus, I can always go back and reread a physical book and bookmark it when the electricity goes out! 🤣😆😂 But I am wishing you the most amazing and FANtabulous rest of the week as well. Hugs and smooches! 🤗🙏🏼🥰🦋🤩
🤗 & 😘
And did you check? It’s up! It shows on your site under other reviews. Yay! 👏🏽 😅 Hope it remains put!
Oh my goodness Selma! 🤗🙏🏼😊 It populated! Oh girlfriend, I am truly excited that it did! YAY!!! Bless you girlfriend! 🙏🏼 You are nothing but the truth! Hugs and smooches! 🥰💖🤗✨🤩
So happy about the way it turned out this time. It’s my pleasure, m’lady. May this success continue. xoxo So happy something I did added value.xoxo That’s always the only hope. Bless you.
Oh my dear Selma, yes girlfriend I am pleased beyond measure my dear. 🤗🙏🏼😊 And your voice added so much more value to validating the contents in my book. Bless you and I appreciate you!
Thanks for the link, Selma. I will certainly look into this. You did a great ‘book talk’ here and you peeked my interest.
LuAnne, dearest, then the review worked. Yay. So happy to know this. It’s a fantastic read. Get the hard copy if your budget allows. It’s full of wisdom. Thanks for dropping a comment to tell me you’re interested in this valuable book by our very Own, Kym Moore. Xoxo I bless you.
Great review of Kym’s most deserved book Selma❣️ Kym’s gifts are next to none on so many levels and the gifts she imparts truly make a difference in our world at large. Her heart and reaching across the kitchen table is perhaps what sets her apart from so many authors. You broke her book down well from conception to delivery! She is well respected and connected in the literary world with a wealth of information! 💞🙏🏼💞
Cindy, I came to know ‘about’ Kym through your post. Loved what you said about her then and had to find out for myself. I’m happy I did. She’s everything you say she is. Some people’s buoyancy is hard to conceal. She is a whole sun! How do you conceal a sun? Dunno!
And I, with no credentials to speak for or rescue me, am so glad she calls me Sista! Imagine my joy. Kym is so real. I’m loving her zeal. Glad I found her at YOUR table. Xoxo thank you.
Oh I’m so glad that our friendships carry over Selma which is the beauty of our blog family and finding the cream da la cream. I see she feels the same about you and I love her Sista hood and how she embraces each and everyone. Kym keeps it real and is smart as a fire cracker or the sun like you say! No thanks needed, we need more like her and you too who always see the bright side! 💞
(((o(*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)o)))♡
Funny. For a while I was speechless too after reading each chapter.
Kym, the review’s probably too long. But really, couldn’t curb my enthusiasm. All the details I wanted to include…And I didn’t even mention the lessons at the end of each chapter. People need to know this. Oh, my!! A glorious book you birthed.
Reading on my phone is hard. And there are so many ‘words’ in your book… 🤭 it was challenging. I recommend this book in hard copy. My eyes, my eyes! I was going crosseye back there. I still haven’t recovered.
You too, dear Kym. Have a funtabulous rest of the week, dearest one. Xoxo.
My pleasure, 🙇🏽♀️
Excellent review Selma. I too hope that those new readers reach beyond the low expectations they have been given. (K)
Greetings, K. Thanks for reading and commenting. Let’s hope they rise to the challenge, indeed. 👏🏽
Incredible review, Selma! 👏🏻 Kym’s book is rich in layers of poetic conversation, appreciation, and original creations. It truly is a valuable resource that I have returned to on more than one occasion. I admire her talent, passion, and charisma, and love how she continues to evolve as an artist, turning her love of poetry into an engaging podcast. 🌟
Kym is well loved. You are loved globally too, dear one.
Thanks for reading and commenting. My review is live in the Japan site. Yay. Hope it transits over to your site soon. 😉
Blessings. XoXo
As are you, sweet and sincere Selma. 🌸 I am sure your review will post just fine. 👍🏻 Thank you. Hugs and kisses!
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So good it’s your Frist wisdom. Iam so happy!, Selma
Thanks so much, Raj. XoXo
Love this beautiful review of a beautiful book and the way it so clearly shares your reading experience! Lovely. <3
I’m thrilled you read it, dear Layla. I really appreciate the support. You’re a beautiful human. Bless your lovely heart.
Love this beautiful review of Kym’s book, Selma! I look forward to reading Kym’s words! Thank you for sharing! 🩷
Hello, Lauren. I am happy to know you read my review and found value in it. It is a wonderful wisdom marinated book that will go a long way. I’m so happy I purchased and read… I blessyou. Be well, dear one. xoxo
I love reading books about books and poetry! This sounds like a book I can’t miss. Thanks, Selma!
You do, too? Then this is a book for you, for sure, Conny. No boring parts in here. Tremendously good read.
I am sure I will love yours too. It will be a while until I review it, but I will. Give me time… I bless you. xoxo
I concur Selma. Kym sure dissected poetry, brought a fresh perspective to this art. Great review.
Happy to know you agree. It’s a valuable book. I’m over the moon happy I got to read Kym’s words.
Xoxo be well, dear Dee. Blessings.
Thanks Selma. It’s definitely a valuable book and a worthwhile read! Cheers 🥂
Cheers to you too 🍪 🥛 😜
Love the cookie and milk 😊
🥂
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