Milk and Honey: A Celebration of Jewish Lesbian Poetry

by Julie R. Enszer

Poetry. LGBT Studies. Jewish Studies. In this land of MILK AND HONEY, poems flow. Contemporary Jewish, lesbian poets address an array of experiences--relationships between and among women, family relationships, politics, solitude, ethical responsibilities, history, solidarity, and community. MILK AND HONEY features beloved poets like Ellen Bass, Robin Becker, Elana Dykewomon, Marilyn Hacker, Eleanor Lerman, Joan Nestle, Leslea Newman and Ellen Orleans, as well as new and emerging voices. With language and imagery that moves from the sensual and political to the tender and serene, MILK AND HONEY explores the vibrant, complicated, exhilarating experience of being Jewish and lesbian--or queer--in the world today.

Genres: Poetry, LGBT, Jewish, Judaism, Anthologies, Religion

86 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2011

About the author

Julie R Enszer is a scholar and poet. Her scholarship is at the intersection of U.S. history and literature with particular attention to twentieth century U.S. feminist and lesbian histories, literatures, and cultures. By examining lesbian print culture with the tools of history and literary studies, she reconsider histories of the Women’s Liberation Movement and gay liberation. Her book manuscript, A Fine Bind: Lesbian-Feminist Publishing from 1969 through 2009, tells stories a dozen lesbian-feminist publishers to consider the meaning of the theoretical and political formations of lesbian-feminism, separatism, and cultural feminism.

Enszer is the author of two collections of poetry, Sisterhood (Sibling Rivalry Press, 2013) and Handmade Love (A Midsummer Night’s Press, 2010). She is editor of Milk & Honey: A Celebration of Jewish Lesbian Poetry (A Midsummer Night’s Press, 2011). Milk & Honey was a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award in Lesbian Poetry. She is the editor of Sinister Wisdom, a multicultural lesbian literary and art journal, and a regular book reviewer for the Lambda Book Report and Calyx.

Reviews

[alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

you: milk and honey

me: this book

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The voice could have been / the air itself, saying: / nothing you could do / would ever be wrong”

What an absolute gift of a collection

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have no experience being either Jewish or a lesbian, but I found this short collection of poetry quite touching.

[Corey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the poems in the first section, which included the first writing about 9/11 that I've read that really resonated with me. The second section was also well written and enjoyable but didn't resonate with me quite as strongly. Overall an enjoyable read, but I do wonder if switching the order might have helped the second section stand out more

[Alex Jiménez · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was extremely good. almost all of the poems were bangers. I don’t think I’ve ever read a poetry anthology and I don’t gravitate towards anthologies in general because I like consistency, but all of these poems worked extremely well together. I’m so glad I randomly found this in the used box at Bookshop Santa Cruz

[Castor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed part one of this collection, 'Milk,' then was utterly let down by 'Honey.' Very mixed feelings. It also feels incredibly odd to hear voices like my own. Though we are the same I feel alien.

[lucy 🌀 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars!! Highlighted so many lines in this, there were some really impactful poems <3

[willowdog]

A very niche market. Thought that 8 of the 33 poems were ok. Have to vote no. Some were just fair at best.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

see my review at http://www.thereportergroup.org/Artic...