Billy Chapata is a Zimbabwean writer, author, and creative based in Atlanta, Georgia. Flowers on the Moon is his second major publication.
This poetry collection serves as a collection of statements that you can nod along to in agreement. Described as a social media sensation by his publisher, Chapata’s collection focuses on affirmations, advice, and healing — topics that are popular on most corners of the internet in 2022. Flowers on the Moon is entangled with new age-y vocabulary and phrases. For example:
Space you need to heal
Know your worth
Your authentic self
Step into my truth
Be so committed to your growth
The book has more popular phrases like the ones listed above than it does unique ones. This collection also relies heavily on repetition, to the point where it feels like you’ve already read the same poem earlier in the book. Most of these poems could’ve been combined. The imagery and figurative language would have also been stronger with more editing.
Stylistically, this collection is in the style of basic sentences broken down into different lines in an attempt to make the statement deep and poetic.
But a broken line Does not A Poem Make.
At least not in my opinion. This might just be a stylistic difference between the poet and the reviewer. It’s a popular style of modern poetry, so surely people out there must enjoy it. I’m just not one of them.
At the end of the day, this is a pleasant coffee table poetry book. Easy to read. Not controversial. Not revolutionary. It’s a quick read that won’t have an emotional impact on your day.
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