"I can't remember anyone I've ever seen at a public pool; with such a memorable body, good or bad; that I think about it ever again." If these lines sound familiar, it's because you've heard them in the background of thousands of videos on social media--a humbling reminder from poet Josie Balka that the way you are will always be more important than the way you look. I hope you remember, Josie's debut poetry collection, includes this famous poem and more than eighty others, many of which are published here for the first time. Every work in this collection resonates powerfully and evocatively. Josie eloquently describes universal experiences like jealousy, family relationships, complex body images, falling in and out of love (with others and yourself), and the ever-changing lens of nostalgia. With sparse, clear prose, Josie's poetry brings forth deep feelings like grief, envy, apathy, joy, and, and most important, hope.
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