I’m a poet. I unknowingly have been for quite some time. But it may surprise other writers that not all poets read as much poetry as they write. I never even owned a poetry book until I joined Moms Who Write, and one of the first I purchased was the award-winning debut collection Tainted Lionheart by Christine Weimer. This book…this book…changed the way I saw myself as a writer, a woman, and a mother, indefinitely.
Honest, Raw, Savage
Now, it’s hard for me to describe how much I love poetry books because the act of reading a poem is such an intimate adventure. The memories and emotions you experience, sparked by a poet’s courage to expose their soul on paper, will never be identical to a fellow reader.
What I will say about Christine’s poetry is to be prepared. No matter what you are hiding, how long you’ve been hiding it, how deep down you have stuffed your trauma and pain, Christine’s work is going to bring those emotions to the surface.
Christine Weimer is a fantastic poet, inspiring writer, and CEO of Our Galaxy Publishing. Her gift for breathing life into each verse creates an unforgettable internal narration for the last time you felt heartbroken, unappreciated, undervalued. Her poetry blends beautifully from cover to cover, illustrating a story of her journey from a period of suffocating sorrow to the instant she began rising from the ashes.
Throughout this entire book, I continued to mutter: That’s it. She nailed it. And she did. Christine describes instances of betrayal and fear, of anger and rebirth, precisely how I felt them. As if she jumped into my head and sifted through my memories to illustrate in words the truth behind why I had felt the hurt to begin with.
Beware of the Lioness
Every line of Tainted Lionheart is charged with passion. Your heart can’t help but race with each verse striking a different chord–from a memory she is healing from, to the courage she is thriving on, to the fierceness she refuses to apologize for.
What I loved most about this book is the continued validation. I felt that I deserved to be the emotional woman, mother, and poet that I am– that it was okay. When you read a poem as honest and raw as Christine’s, a poem that shows the imperfections of human nature and the inner dialogue of creative minds, you feel at home. You finally have words to attach to the painful experiences of your past and affirmations for moving forward.
Christine’s work first encourages you to feel pain, life-altering pain, in every lost corner of your soul. Then she makes you use it; to sever the strength the pain swept in with and transform it into fuel to grow. She forces you to confront those who have caused you pain as the wild lioness, returning more fierce than you could have ever imagined.
Grab Tainted Lionheart by Christine Weimer
The best part about poetry books is you can read them whenever you need to. You can read a few poems, binge the entire thing, or simply choose one as a daily affirmation. Owning poetry books in my personal library was something I never knew I was missing. Pick up Tainted Lionheart by Christine Weimer now to start or add to your collection.
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About the Writer: Shell Sherwood is a poet, fiction writer, freelancer, and creator of silly children’s stories who could live on coffee, pastries, and romantic tragedies. She lives in Hudson Valley, NY, with her three boys and aspires to own a small writing getaway in every climate. Shell is currently working on her debut poetry collection. Learn more about Shell and follow her writing journey via her author blog, Instagram, and TikTok.