Though available, I read via an online reader copy. I did not read all of the poems by Ebony Stewart in their collection Wash. This is because it is difficult to read poetry online for me and second, they were terribly intense and it was not something I really needed to immerse myself in at the time. However, I will find a finshed copy and just sit and read. Stewart has a passionate voice that needs to be slowly enjoyed.
And I hope this does not come off as bad, but the poetry of this collection sounds like it was written by someone who was named Ebony. They are strong, proud, fearful, sad, hopeful and serious. There is love towards Ebony herself as a woman of color trying to live in a world made for and by men. She is trying to survive bad relationships and looking for her strength. This comes out in poems titled Summer, Domestic, Labyrinth, and Dragonflies. She takes nature to give examples (a super nova), she takes realistic settings (the ex boyfriend and his abuse) and she tells this in real terms. It is poetic, but you are not getting overly flowery writing. Things are understandable, readable and relatable.
Formats range from traditional to unconventional. Most poems are medium length, but there are longer ones. One poem is even partly written upside down and has abstract pieces. Mostly she focuses on what it means to be a woman for yourself and for men; speaking about society’s rules and expectations; how other women can influence you to fly or hide. In an honest, but somewhat guarded presentation, we learn of her hate, fears, aches, depression, of being used. I used the word woman (with the letters A or E) in my revewi, but Stewart uses the letter X for several words. This allows the point that the poet is trying to make about the themes they are dealing with come across even more strongly.
As mentioned above, it is mature and therefore not for everyone but can be relatable to most women. There are triggers including domestic abuse, racism, sexism. My wrap up its that it is terribly lovely and bitter.
