24 Comments
User's avatar
Wadzanai A's avatar

Is the anthology ready yet!!! Excellent excellent!! I prefer this non-traditional approach.

Fragile Kingdom's avatar

An interesting approach, analysing your own poems like this!

Sheriff Of Hope's avatar

Woah, I have never read anything this complex and thought provoking before.

robenia's avatar

Thank you. Wow, what a lovely compliment.

Emery Feine's avatar

this is such an interesting and excellent piece, great job 👏

Data Frank's avatar

There’s something deeply grounding about the way you frame “hearthwork” it feels like a return to tending what sustains us rather than constantly reaching outward. The emphasis on quiet, often unseen labor carries a kind of dignity that modern productivity culture tends to overlook.

It reads as both practical and almost sacred the idea that meaning isn’t always found in expansion, but in maintenance, care, and presence. That shift in perspective feels important, especially in a world that rewards noise over nourishment.

Dr K in the Belizean Jungle's avatar

What a creative mix of prose, poetry and insight. Nicely done!

Ess0p's avatar

This is a work of art

Polar Funk's avatar

This was dope

Original, non traditional

Much needed in the times we’re living in

You earned another sub

Check me out

Subscribe if you’re inspired!

~ t.'s avatar

i love your perspective!!

Meera's avatar

Is it strange i unintentionally read it at 4:44 but pm not am

robenia's avatar

Wow. I think it’s poetic actually.

Kate L. Johnson's avatar

These are lovely

itsmichelled_'s avatar

The approach of analysing your own poems is something I don't think I've seen done quite like this before, & it works because it doesn't feel like explanation so much as continuation. Like the prose is another layer of the poem itself rather than a key handed to the reader.

The line that stopped me completely was "to cast shade is to give the diminishment a body."

That's doing something remarkable. Like, the whole series builds so quietly, so deliberately, & the retrospective at the end being so honest && so unguarded about which ones you liked & which ones you struggled with made me trust everything that came before it even more. Very well done!

robenia's avatar

Thank you so much. It’s hard for me to write work that’s separate. I like to imagine my speaker as a character on a journey through emotional experiences.

Rylee Joy's avatar

This was such a unique read! The analysis was really interesting!

Latasha Cooper's avatar

Love, love, love… Oral Tradition…. Awesome!!!!

Stuti Srivastava's avatar

Such keenly detailed and richly explored work!

Kassie Madness's avatar

This was beautiful and illuminating to read. One of the best posts I’ve read on Substack so far. I love the way you wove in poems, definitions, flame, sun, moon, tone and analysis throughout it.