Stardust and Skin by Carla M. Cherry [Book Review]
If God were to pray over you, what would She say?”
On My Knees, p. 35
In her fifth book of poetry, Carla M. Cherry takes us on a “deeply personal story of embracing flaws.” This is a meditation that goes many leagues deeper than, “What do you like about yourself?” We all have that stock answer ready. Her exploration asks, “What don’t you like about yourself?” and shows us how to turn the power of that emotion inside out. In the 22 poems in Stardust and Skin, Cherry ponders her journey of lost and found body positivity as a Black girl, now a Black woman.
You still don’t know how to pair “I am” with beautiful / instead of “I feel.”
Sermon, p. 40
When I read that line, I had to reread it because I had to wonder if I did or not. I am beautiful vs. I feel beautiful. It was in that moment I recognized how often we’re told it’s only important that we feel beautiful — and there’s nothing wrong with that at first glance. But in teaching each other to say, “I feel beautiful,” we undermine the empowering, “I am beautiful,” and feelings, being temporary in nature, aren’t a steady ground for an unconditional love of Self. In “War on Canvas,” Cherry writes in response to a friend commenting on her skin, “No one came to my defense. Not even me” (p. 45). And it’s true that “I feel beautiful” isn’t the same kind of defense as “I am beautiful.”
Revealing the bitterroot of me / would be like banging my shin / against the foot of my bed.”
Ingress, p. 18
I felt this line in my whole body, so universally understood. The sentiment communicates perfectly just how painful it is to uncover that bitterness we bury, that we would have to admit, “I pick happy people apart in my head” (p. 19).
I would definitely recommend Stardust and Skin, especially as a quick read to start getting into her style.
For me, the message in the blessing-like repetition of “On My Knees” was the chef’s kiss of this 55-page collection. The vivid poem/prayer comes full circle, and I’m not even going to quote it because 1) I’d have to quote the entire poem I loved it so much, and 2) I want you to go read it. I love it more every time I do.
Lastly, the art accompanying the poetry here serves the words well, electrifying the pages with bursts of strong imagery. Both the cover and illustrations are attributed to tonii. I loved seeing the art bring the sensual flow of her words into the visual plane.
Check out my reviews of her earlier works from 2017: Thirty Dollars and a Bowl of Soup and Honeysuckle Me.
Cherry, an English teacher and poet from New York City, is currently pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at the City College of New York. Her other published works include: Gnat Feathers and Butterfly Wings (2008), and Thirty Dollars and a Bowl of Soup (2017), Honeysuckle Me (2017), and These Pearls Are Real (2018) as well as individual pieces in publications such as Anderbo, For Harriet, Dissident Voice, Random Sample Review, Eunoia Review, Bop Dead City, MemoryHouse Magazine, Terra Preta Review, Synaeresis, Ariel Chart, Variety Pack, and Anti-Heroin Chic.
You can find Cherry’s books and author page on Amazon and connect with her on Instagram and Twitter.
