Emotions by Drici Amos James

Emotions is for you if you are a fan of big poetry collections with many poems lavished in contemporary styles and capturing raw emotions.

As a Wattpad baby who grew up reading and writing on that platform, I was thrilled when the poet sent me a copy of Emotions. 

This poetry collection, Emotions, started as a Wattpad book, and it took me back to my active days on the app, when my first few published poetry collections also began. Congratulations to Drici Amos James. Dreams are possible.

However, beyond this excitement, what did I find when I read this collection? 

I appreciated that he acknowledges his parents—his mother and late father—in the first two letters in the collection. The mother’s account, as shared by the author, touched me deeply. He recalls the sacrifices of a single mother, putting everything on the table to raise her children and give them the life they desired.

My siblings and I applaud you for converting the ghetto into an oasis of hope and an ocean for nourishing all our gifts and talents.

The third letter, however, is dedicated to the reader, where the author tells them about himself and his life journey. While it’s rare to see in a poetry collection, it’s not unheard of and generally not a problem. In Emotions, the poet wants readers to meet him before they meet the poems. However, this “self-introduction” seems to go on for ages—from page 39 to page 87. That is 48 pages (if I am any good at maths), which felt excessive to me. 

Admittedly, there is much to learn from his life’s journey—the ups and downs, the motivations, the help, the discouraging moments, and everything in between, including the story of the birth of this collection. However, in my opinion, that is what memoirs are for. When picking up a poetry collection, I expect to read poems for that many pages. 

The first poem, “Emotions,” clearly captures the heart and soul of the collection. It poses questions I have repeatedly asked myself in the past. The poet lyrically captures questions like “Why am I so emotional?” “Why do I keep breaking down?” and “Why do these emotions swallow me up?”

Beyond “Emotions,” there are a few relatable poems like “Fear,” “Thoughts,” “Demons,” “Dear Me,” “Life,” “Reality,” and “Self-Hate,” among others. These poems sent my mind back to the words of the Editor in the preface: “His book not only surprised me with its emotional candor, but he hooked me through his breathtaking skill to navigate through our worst fears and write them so eloquently.”

These words are true for many of the poems in this collection, and I enjoyed them. 

While not every poem in the collection resonated with me, I appreciate the diverse range of styles and themes. I also liked the art attached to the poems. They added another layer of profoundness to the reading experience.

Emotions is for you if you are a fan of big poetry collections with many poems lavished in contemporary styles and capturing raw emotions.

This collection is like a large pot of soup—once you take the time to explore it further, there’s something for everyone.

I recommend.