The Day is Ready for You by Alison Malee is a poetry collection divded into three parts: unmoveable things, a restless pause, and prayers like exhales. The entire collection is free-verse, and written in all lowercase text.

Part one seems very anger filled, with themes of a wanting for love, the inculcated beliefs of being not good enough, and finding mismatched love that inevitably breaks apart. I can so grok these things. Part two seems more about broken love or departed love, learning to survive these things and how hard that can be. How it can seem much easier to try to hold one instead of letting go. Part three seems more spiritual overall, generally more about learning to be brave, finding your sense self-worth, and learning to love oneself.

‘playing cards’ was one of my favourite poems. It reminded me of a quote from the show House, MD where Dr House somewhat cynically, and sadly, notes “If the wonder is gone when the truth is known, then there never really was any.”  Both poem and quote speak to the metaphysicist in me, both perhaps taken in a different light than intended.

‘drop them’ spoke deeply to me, as one who carries these loaded guns around as well, the demons of low self-worth, the inculcated limiting beliefs I need so desperately to drop, to let go of, yet how hard that is!

‘worth’ was another poem speaking to me of reclaiming my sense of self-worth.

Others that spoke deeply to me were ‘slow’, ‘strange thing’, and ‘does it’. Overall, I enjoyed this collection. It made me think, and left me pondering at times. Plus, it has a gorgeous cover! Highly recommended for those who enjoy free verse poetry.

***Many thanks to Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.