A poetry collection for insta-poety lovers who need a reminder that everything will be okay.
Dates Read: 21/05/2023 to 21/05/2023
Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Word to describe: Retrospective
Genre: Poetry
As a long-time lover of S.L Gray's Instagram page filled with snippets of her poetry - I knew I couldn't help but dive into another one of her published collections. Without being an exception to the rule, These Unforgettable Things follows the path of her previous book Skin, Bones, and Too Much Love, and, naturally, sticks to the theme of lost love and rediscovering yourself afterwards. I find S.L. Gray's writing incredibly cathartic, an emotional release that fills each page and lets readers sit with their emotions for a short minute. Whether lonesome or missing someone who was once a huge part of their love life, readers can divulge their senses into a collection that truly understands the harsh grip a former lover can hold on their soul.
One thing that is intensely noticeable in this collection is the effort and intention S.L. Gray used when curating each poem and chapter. With a similar layout to that of other favourite poets (yes - of course, I am talking about Amanda Lovelace), These Unforgettable Things uses one main message of hope and security despite the implications of an unsteady and disastrous relationship end. I find it easy to personally relate to poems that express longing and want for lost love and the regeneration of acceptance that leads to self-love. Relationships are hard and break-ups are even harder but poets like S.L. Gray who pour their entire existence into creating a collection that highlights the tumultuous emotional rollercoaster that encapsulates love in its entirety are the saviours most readers don't realise they need. For myself, this book was exactly what I needed.
My only pet peeve, which inevitably led to this collection losing that all-important fifth star, was the repetition. The familiarity of one poem to the next felt like there was never anything new introduced. Same poems - different phrases. I also would've liked to see more metaphors and imagery put into the poetry so the words don't come across as Tumblr quotes. I adore poetry that can take the mundane and turn it into beauty, this collection fell short of that and unfortunately meant that towards the end of the collection, my level of interest started to wane. Now, don't get me wrong - a lot of poets follow this pattern and stick to a comfort level of topics they can understand and relate to, which is perfectly fine. But I hope to see further development in S.L.Gray's writing and wish that in the future an even better collection is released for all of her Instagram fans and followers.
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