The Chaos of Longing

I always say, poetry is extremely subjective and hard to review, as it will touch each and every reader in a completely unique way. Not every collection or poet will strike the right note with every reader, and this ended up being the case for me with these poems. This was one of those situations where I could appreciate the talent of the author, but the topics and their presentation were just not for me. However, despite my personal experience with these poems, I can easily see how they could deeply impact a reader.

These poems are brave, raw, and powerful. They are incredibly intimate and portray both human weakness and the strength that can come out in one’s most vulnerable moments. The collection as a whole is a journey from naivety, through the torment and battering that life and love can inflict on one’s heart and soul, and ending where healing begins.

Robinson paints a vivid and candid retrospective on self-image and self-discovery—she exposes the full depth of the painful, open wounds that slowly close over time. Not only does she display the torment that one may go through when they let down their defenses in favor of passion, but also the triumph of courage gained from accepting who we are and the decisions we make. Ultimately, this collection is not only her story, but also a stark and uninhibited portrait of what it is like to be human.

Even though I didn’t quite connect with this particular work and the subject matter, I still found the beauty in Robinson’s writing and delicate crafting of each poem. She clearly poured so much heart and meaning into every word, and truly bared herself and her personal emotional journey through this collection. I admire her candor and her nerve, opening herself up in this manner—and I very much believe that her writing can and will reach and impact plenty of readers.

Inception
She felt unappreciated by her parents so she craved love from men. She felt insecure, broken and lost. When she loves a person, she would willingly give it all even if it hurts so much. She needed the affection and affirmation that someone needs her or somehow, she's important.

Longing
The foundation of the relationship/s were built in lust instead of love. Desire, longing and hunger was stronger than friendship. Along the way, she felt alone and question if God gave up on her. She had love the wrong persons, got attached to unavailable men but she realized that the pain was too unbearable.

Chaos
Everything that had happened to her was in constant repeat. She finally saw how messed up love could be. That being able to wake up from the pain of loving someone was not that easy. And how finally moving on was a lot scary than being used to the heartbreaks it caused her.

Epiphany
She got tired of denying that all she needed all along was self-love and that she needs to know her worth more than anyone or anything. Until she build her own walls, so high that no one would break in that easily. But redemption was not too late for her to forgive herself because she isn’t broken beyond repair.

lesson learned
i was willing
to learn our pieces
to make us whole.

i grasped
and strangled
every hope
and endured the
asphyxiation of love.

i’ve learned
to breathe
without you.
exit my wounds
so i can heal.

The Chaos of Longing is raw, unfiltered with sharp emotions that will cut you through the bones.

This collection of poems don't just tell a story but will take you to a journey that was equally intimate and personal to the author. The poems were powerfully written that every word felt like I was invading her own private space. She let her readers know her more, rip her open and be a part of her road trip to self-love.

I love that she included trigger warnings on the first page of her collection before readers dive in and she made sure what they would expect out of them. I love how single words like truth, remedy and renewal gave so much impact like I have never appreciated them before. K.Y. Robinson's poems were unabashed yet empowering.

Wrapping up her book with an ultimate positivity and resolution was like giving a fictional story a happy ending. I really recommend this book who would love to read something out of their comfort zone. This would be your next cup of tea.

***Thank you to NetGalley, Andrews McMeel Publishing and K.Y. Robinson for providing me an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review!

I got an ARC in return for an honest review on NetGalley.

I am not the biggest fan of poetry. The poems have to be something special for me to considering putting the effort towards getting the book either buying it or finding it at the library. There are very few poets I would put that effort towards. The only effort I had to put forward was downloading this book, but from what I read I will gladly put effort into this author. I will look for her books. I will push people to read it. I will become a cheerleader for her success. She has won me over. 

The poems ranged from identity to self-love. The poems are so deep and necessary. This is the type of poetry that I needed in high school and college when I started doing activist work. This is the type of poetry I needed when I moved across the country for a fresh start. This is the type of poetry I need now as I am trying to navigate the world. This book applies to so many people and experiences. There were poems that discussed being black that I could not relate to on a perfect match, but the feelings she had towards her skin brought up the feelings I have towards mine for being trans. The wording was so perfect and I couldn't help but be impressed that she used "gentrified" in a poem that was about her own body.

There are many heavy topics covered. There is a lot of sexual themes, which I saw a bad review complaining about. I loved how frank the author was and how beautifully graphic she was. These were poems about having sex, these were poems about connections. These were poems about how bodies and love don't always match. These are poems about only feeling loved when someone is there with you. These are poems about feeling like no one will love you unless you have sex with them. They aren't about sex, they are about the complicated feelings that sex brings. 

5 out of 5 stars. I would recommend this book!

Says so much with so few words in each poem! It feels lyrical, musical without akwardness. I found almost all of the poems in this book rich with unexpected, sometimes startling metaphors which worked like a charm. Hope to see more from this talented poet. I am refreshed and inspired to go back to the beginning with some of my own belabored poetic efforts.

In The Chaos of Longing K.Y. Robinson writes about her deepest emotions. The poems have been divided into four sections, Inception, Longing, Chaos and Epiphany and they each cover a different part of her personal development. She doesn't stay away from difficult topics, she writes about her early sexuality, sexual trauma, longing, lust, disgust, love, being broken, mental illness and much more in a beautiful raw and honest way. To me it felt like I'd been given a chance to look into her soul, which is something incredibly brave to offer. K.Y. Robinson's readers receive a truly precious gift from the author.

K.Y. Robinson's words have a stunning natural flow. Her poems aren't difficult to read, but at the same time their content is far from easy. I liked that contrast from the start. Once I started reading The Chaos of Longing I couldn't put it down, I had to read all the poems at once and when I finished them I read them again. There are many emotional layers and reading the poems more than once gave me a better insight and understanding of them. I could read this collection over and over again and still discover something new every single time. I am really impressed by these poems and highly recommend The Chaos of Longing.

I am conflicted on how to think of this poetry collection. For one, I highly disliked it and struggled with reading it from cover to cover. I wanted to give up a few times but kept convincing myself that it would get better. However, I can say that there were a few poems that I could connect to and enjoy, but as an overall, I couldn't connect or even care.

Many of the poems deal with depression, personal problems, mental illness, abuse, acceptance, and so on. I knew they dealt with serious and deeply personal emotions for the author, though what didn't strike me well was the style of this poetry. I am not a freestyle lover. I had read Amanda Lovelace's poetry collection of The Princess Saves Herself in this One so I thought I would enjoy something similar as well. Yeah, no.

Among my dislike, as I said, there were a few poems I enjoyed, mainly for their use of certain words or literary devices to create a colorful image.

To summarize, this collection is not for everyone. It wasn't for me, but maybe it is for you. Whether you've been a victim of trauma or not, you might enjoy the raw and emotion poured into this poetry.

Rating: 1.5 stars

I’m just starting to appreciate the beauty that is poetry so I don’t have a lot to go on when reading books of poetry. I want to first say I thought the trigger warning right in the beginning for suicidal ideation, descriptions of sexual trauma, racism, and sexism was definitely a must for this book. I think all books with such triggering content should have warnings in the beginning just like this.The way it was broken up into 4 sections, inception, longing, chaos, and epiphany added so much to the story in my opinion.

I have always enjoyed the prose Ellen Hopkins writes in, which made me want to pick up poetry books in the first place, and this book did not disappoint. I was written so beautifully, and everything flowed seamlessly. I had no trouble keeping up with the story, and it was intoxicating. I read the who book in one sitting.

Overall I feel like if these triggers will not bother you, you should definitely read this book. Even if you are not the biggest fan of poetry, or like me are just getting into it, there is something in this book for everyone to appreciate.

The Chaos of Longing by K.Y. Robinson is a raw collection of poems about love, heartbreak and trauma. Divided into four sections, Robinson's collection tells a loose story of the beginnings, middles and ends of relationships as well as her childhood. While it was originally self-published, The Chaos of Longing was republished by Andrews McMeel Publishing in September 2017.

I adore confessional poetry. I want to feel like I know a poet by reading their work. After inhaling The Chaos of Longing, Robinson feels like a dear friend. The way she describe her struggles and experiences transports me to the moment she is sharing. I was completely wrapped up in her world and wanted everything to work out for her.

Honestly, the worst thing about getting poetry ARCs is the time limit. I wanted to savor this collection. I wanted to read one poem each day until I was finished and I couldn't. I feel like this will be even more enjoyable the more times I read it. I will defiantly purchase a finished copy in the near future.

I received this book from Andrews McMeel Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book of poetry left me without words. It was incredible, looking back now, the way the author succeeds in conveying such strong feelings with so few words and sentences. I guess this must be the power and the beauty of poetry, but I'm not an expert.

Questo libro di poesie mi ha lasciato completamente senza parole. Ripensandoci é quasi incredibile come l'autrice riesca in poche parole e frasi a veicolare sentimenti cosí intensi. Immagino sia questo il potere della poesia, ma io non sono un'esperta.

The Chaos of Longing is a beautiful poetry collection. Robinson writes about her childhood, romantic dreams, racism, sexism, her journey with mental illness and trauma. The collection has a very nice diversity of topics and tones: sweet and happy love stories, painful and heartbreaking memories, hopeful and complicated journeys to self-love. The poems are amazing, very personal and honest.

I'm a very excited to read more from the author.

Piercing, powerful, raw, and sometimes triggering, I read this collection quickly. These were not poems I cared to linger over (though the language is deftly wielded and the poet skilled) - until the final section, "epiphany." Something about that set had me hooked with its resonance, tears brimming as I nodded in appreciation at being handed words that felt "right" for the moment in which I read them. The final poem, "the galaxy is yours," was a perfect closing. Its last three lines are below.

"you're still alive.
you're still alive.
you're still alive."

Beautiful writing. I adore Robinson’s use of metaphors and similes.

The book was beautifully constructed. It had many poems of love and longing (along with trauma, mental illness, and survival), as suggests the cover. I’ll admit, I was hoping it would have an equal amount of poems covering each theme. It seemed most of them revolved around love and heartbreak. Other than that, it was a wonderful read and well worth the purchase.

The poems are short but deeply meaningful. I wasn't really interested in the subject matter of the middle chapters poem. Each poem dug deep into my soul giving words to emotions and circumstances I previously had felt alone and unable to express myself. This book is a must read for poetry lovers and or any body with a heart. The last chapter is deeply inspiring.

This book profoundly illustrates the multitude of emotions that accompany a state of longing. Anyone who has ever been flooded with feelings of loss, betrayal, grief, loneliness, resentment, inadequacy, jealousy or frustration due to love, or the absence thereof....will find a hypothetical sense of validation in this book. You're not alone. Others have been hurt and felt the same misery.... this too, shall pass. Painful circumstances bring much needed change and personal growth to our lives. Eventually it will all make sense. And, in the future, you may even be grateful for what you are going thru now. Everything happens for a reason. Hugs to the lonesome hearts out there needing some peace and to feel understood.

If you are interested in authentic, vulnerable poetry filled with imagery, metaphors, assonance, alliteration and other poetic devices, then check out “Things I Never Said”, a poetry collection by Starlenie Vondora. The collection can be purchased here on the store and touches on similar themes discussed in this book.

The Chaos of Longing definitely has it's moments. Several times I saw a portrait of myself painted in K. Y. Robinson's words. However this collection falters after the midpoint, becoming redundant, pieces of criticism turning to dust that is lost to the wind.

If you are interested in authentic, vulnerable poetry filled with imagery, metaphors, assonance, alliteration and other poetic devices, then check out “Things I Never Said”, a poetry collection by Starlenie Vondora. The collection can be purchased here on the store and touches on similar themes discussed in this book.

This book is..... magical. It told a story from beginning to end. I love the way the author entwined her words. Each poem is meaningful and thought provoking. One of my favorites.. would be Glutton: "You can't stuff yourself alive with lust... to fill the empty spaces. If you love yourself first, your heart will always be at full capacity. Not a blinking vacancy sign that reeks of loneliness, filth, and despair."

The Chaos of Longing definitely has it's moments. Several times I saw a portrait of myself painted in K. Y. Robinson's words. However this collection falters after the midpoint, becoming redundant, pieces of criticism turning to dust that is lost to the wind.

From the very beginning, K. Y. Robinson, captures your attention and your heart with her raw words and clever figurative language. The book is not only interesting but it is well written. It is sure to be a new reference for how to write poetry. Once I began reading. I did not put it down until I finished. She takes the reader through the journey of a heart that has experienced every emotion and survived. Waiting on part 2!

Robinson writes with passion, bitterness and loss innocence. Her words are moving and her detailed descriptions transformative while her experiences are illuminating. A must read for both male and female, young and old.

It's fine, honestly. It's kinda predictable angsty Tumblr poetry about love and sadness, not unlike milk & honey, not very well written. But if that's what you're looking for, this does what it needs to do.

This book has become my favorite read and I readily sent screenshots of the pages to friends and family urging them to read this poetic masterpiece. Never have I felt that I could relate so much to a piece of work, that I could learn and more so that someone else can write what I could never find the words to say. Love

I love the poetry. It is well written and feels like food for the soul. I recommend it to everyone woman I know who is a reader of poetry. She's a poet with beautiful words that touch. When you put down milk & honey pick this up. I read and read until I couldn't read anymore. Inspired me to write myself.

Thank you for spilling your soul out to us. It was as if the first part of the book was the pages of my diary. Then you voice echoed that of my late mothers, who passed while I was 14, honestly your words drew tears to my eyes. Please keep pouring your heart out on pages. Am currently about to follow you on everything!!!
Such magnifying, perfectly chosen vocabulary for an astonishing cohesive pice of art ❤️

As a poet, I am floored with this collection. Honest, unashamed, forthcoming, elegantly worded but not overthought. Way better than Milk and Honey or Our Numbered Days. R.M. Drake wishes he could write something as devastating and wholehearted as this. It's never leaving my shelf.

K.Y. Robinson takes you on a journey through trauma, unrequited love, and rediscovered self love that can't help but waken inner goddesses everywhere. She is love and longing and feminism all wrapped into the rhythm of every poem. Reading this book, you feel her spirit and can't help but awaken your own.

Brilliant work! She is so present with her language, she fulfills her goals of survival through bias, racism, and mental illness labels. Her romantic passion towards life and love shines as does she. Loved it! My very favorite is on page 63.

A very powerful set of poems highlighting life experiences and the emotions they evoked. Beautiful, haunting and engaging, A Chaos of Longing will definitely pull you in with each word and story being told. A nonreader of poetry will even be able to get what the author is trying to tell without getting confused. Definitely worth reading.

This book is..... magical. It told a story from beginning to end. I love the way the author entwined her words. Each poem is meaningful and thought provoking. One of my favorites.. would be Glutton: "You can't stuff yourself alive with lust... to fill the empty spaces. If you love yourself first, your heart will always be at full capacity. Not a blinking vacancy sign that reeks of loneliness, filth, and despair."

From the very beginning, K. Y. Robinson, captures your attention and your heart with her raw words and clever figurative language. The book is not only interesting but it is well written. It is sure to be a new reference for how to write poetry. Once I began reading. I did not put it down until I finished. She takes the reader through the journey of a heart that has experienced every emotion and survived. Waiting on part 2!