So much emotion is packed into this small book of poetry – beautiful, clear, compassionate, strong.

I sat down to read Blood Orange as part of a readathon, but I think this would be better experienced with more spaciousness and time to reflect on each poem before moving on. Maybe even reading one or two a day and sitting with them.

These poems are part of Mx. Yaffa’s way of processing their grief, anger, and desire for home and a world where they feel safe and valued. They are defiant, thoughtful, and quietly hopeful. 

CW: genocide, colonization, death (child), grief, racism, violence, islamophobia, transphobia