Honey in My Hair by Livia Meneghin
$14.99
What does it mean to come to know a place? Livia Meneghin does not merely visit Greece, she allows Greece to infuse every movement of her senses and her thoughts. The poems contained in this chapbook can barely contain themselves, since they are so deeply immersed in the project of embracing everything, asking for more, and diving headfirst into what their author finds wild, and beautiful, and sacred. “Look,” these poems instruct us, “You will see and be/everything.”
In these sensuous, lyric poems, Livia Meneghin captures the marvel and mystery that is Greece. Each poem offers an invitation to the reader to shed her/his skin and enter the experience: “Hear the vendor say, God must be Greek, / And believe him—if you can.” And always, transformation shimmers–a possibility, a dare, a sacrament– wet and wide as the Aegean, dripping, like these poems, with kalos (beauty).
–Lauren K. Alleyne, poet
Description
Honey in My Hair
by Livia Meneghin
$14.99, paper
978-1-63534-466-0
2018
“Livia Meneghin is a poet, essayist, and artist. “Honey in My Hair” is her first chapbook publication, and was a finalist in the Atlas Review’s 2016 Chapbook Competition. Her poem, “Freedom,” was originally published in the Franklin & Marshall College Alumni Arts Review. Her essays can be found on her blog, liviameneghin.wordpress.com, as well as HandwrittenWork.com. She has lived in Italy, Greece, England, New York, and Pennsylvania, though currently resides in Massachusetts.”
Stephanie Kavourias (verified owner) –
This young poet stimulates your imagination
Stephanie Kavourias (verified owner) –
This young poet captures your imagination of all that is Greece
Emily Meneghin –
Meneghin writes with beautiful imagery, creating intimate moments of honest reflection. Really lovely poetry. I enjoyed reading and re-reading!
Katie (verified owner) –
While I have been to Greece, I’ve never been to Thassos, the place that inspired this collection and where it is set, and I know the packed streets of Athens that I knew must be wildly different from the shorelines of the island Thassos. Still, Livia Meneghin’s poetry transports me back to Greece, and somehow to a place I’ve never even seen. I feel like I know and have experienced Thassos through her words alone. Furthermore, I feel as though I have come to know the people Livia knows through her barest hints of them. By the last poem, I feel as if I too am leaving Greece. Livia’s words wash over the reader the way I imagine the Aegean washes over a swimmer: a feeling I’ve never known but that seems somehow like a memory. If you think you “don’t get” poetry, I recommend reading Honey in My Hair; even those things the writer keeps mysterious will leave you inexplicably understanding more.
Jackie (verified owner) –
A beyond impressive debut! The attention to detail and level of self awareness are palpable in every piece. I especially enjoyed the layout of each poem; they were pleasing to the eye and made the poems more interesting to read. My favorite piece in the collection was “Octopus Salad,” a take on a traditional recipe, but with a deep infusion of emotion. We hear of octopus throughout the other pieces in the collection, and we see here some of the complex meaning of the octopus to the narrator.
I look forward to reading the beautiful work Meneghin produces in the future!
Hallie –
This collection is honest, insightful, and full of skilled imagery that allowed me to conceptualize a place I’ve never seen. Amazing work!
Beth (verified owner) –
Ms. Meneghin’s poems are about discovery, perseverance and absorption. Each writing is visual and powerful, igniting your senses. I often sit and just re-read this collection. I’ve never traveled to Greece but that’s okay, these poems take me there. A journey I can make over and over again. I know it may sound corny, but this book is a must read!
Leah (verified owner) –
Livia Meneghin’s poems will take any reader to Greece with her poems soaked in images of honey, the sea, and longing. Whether or not you’ve had the privilege to experience Greece, this collection is a must-read. As for those who have been (especially Thasos), _Honey in My Hair_ will take you right back. Be forewarned…you’ll want to book your (return) trip immediately.
SK (verified owner) –
This poet took me to Greece with her. I read it in one sitting and didn’t want it to end. When’s the sequel??
Efrain Alex Nunez –
A truly great foray into the vivid area that if Greece, a master class in imagery and really felt transported to a wonderful place I’d never been to upon reading! This collection evokes strong emotion and I was hungry for more.
Sarah (verified owner) –
A dazzling debut. Ms. Meneghin’s words are the product of a specific time and place, but capture something universal. In her vivid descriptions of Greece, I felt glimmers of recognition even though I have never visited the country. I turned to Honey in My Hair to be transported, but found myself seeing my everyday surroundings with fresh eyes. This chapbook is not only an immersive, intimate portrait of Greece, but also something of an instruction manual for how to see and appreciate the sensuous small details of life that usually go unnoticed. Such is the power of poetry and the magic of this masterful work by Ms. Meneghin. I look forward to seeing where this young poet takes me next.
Deirdre Scanlon (verified owner) –
I immensely enjoyed diving into the Aegean Sea with Meneghin’s poetry. Her lines tell a story familiar to many but infused with the colors and taste of Greece: the exploration and discovery of self. These poems are filled with strong female characters and female relationships that move the narrator forward into acceptance of vulnerability as a place of empowerment. From grandmother to mother, from ladies dancing to Artemis the cat, you will be filled with and moved by the stories of one and the stories of many. 10/10 would recommend.
Tom –
Stunning beauty, sensitivity, range, and assurance of voice. What an incredible collection of poems!