The Tigers, They Let Me

by Anis Mojgani

In his sixth poetry collection, Anis Mojgani’s poems travel closer to what his heart yearns a reborn, propelling love that can thrive, a true love of self.The author ventures throughout the book in a vulnerable hunt for a thriving understanding of what tenderness in our world looks like and what it can deliver to us.

The author ventures throughout the book in a vulnerable hunt for a thriving understanding of what tenderness brings in a world at times rife with sorrows. 
Drawing from the simple directness of Kenneth Rexroth’s book of Chinese poem translations and the always-present beauty of Lorca’s voice, Mojgani tumbles into the joys of desire, not just from others, but also unfurls a meditation on how to love whether in the presence of another or when alone


Birthed out of laughter and love, pain and remembrance, these new poems arrived out of a touchless world that has asked us all to navigate the difference between loneliness and alone. In this time Mojgani asks “How do we show up to cup a little bit of ourselves into the soft earth and allow time to play its own part in what of ourselves we farm?” 


The poems here are much like what we put in the earth, ideas planted with hope and an unknowing openness to what might come. Whether we try to pull in tighter on the spools of love’s thread or watch helplessly as the lines lengthen between us, this book is for those of us stumbling or resisting our path to intimacy; a book for those who are ready and running gleefully towards love, those who hadn’t even known the earth under them was breaking until they saw the flowers. Mojgani invites the reader in so that they may take this voyage together.

Genres: Poetry

136 pages, Paperback

Published July 19, 2023

About the author

ANIS MOJGANI is a two time National Poetry Slam Champion, winner of the International World Cup Poetry Slam, and multiple-time TEDx Speaker. He has been awarded residencies from the Vermont Studio Center, AIR Serenbe, and the Oregon Literary Arts Writers-In-The-Schools program. His work has appeared on HBO, NPR, and in the pages of such journals as Rattle, Forklift Ohio, Paper Darts, and Thrush.
Anis is the author of five books, all published by Write Bloody Publishing: The Pocketknife Bible (2015). Songs From Under the River (2013), The Feather Room (2011), Over the Anvil We Stretch (2008), and his latest, In the Pockets of Small Gods (2018). Originally from New Orleans, he currently lives in Oregon.

Reviews

[Jack Malik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anis’ poems can feed a poet/reader throughout the seasons. One poem of his can satiate a person for a few days. His collection, a lifetime.

It’s a good collection. Still couldn’t topped-off In the Pockets of Small Gods. Nonetheless, Anis will always be Anis for me.

My favourite pieces in this collection are the followings:

Back then
A poem about you and me and the new country
With you in this old jalopy of ours
There was a house
These were my apples
When she was young Rilke spoke to her
from Simply
Moving her mouth with mine
The 1st of 2 poems that together and alone speak to a bigger one
You are freckled like spring
Things I love
The deer
In the mouth of
Snow & cardamom
In Summer

[Julieta · Rating 4 out of 5]

if tenderness was a poet it would be mr. mojgani

[Marina Richie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been a fan of Anis Mojani since hearing him perform "Come Closer" at Fishtrap writers gathering in 2016. I always hear his voice and imagine his hand movements when I read his poems. His newest book reads like a caress, an ode to tender love, and the epiphanal nature of love at first and love that may or may not last. I particularly liked "Sprig" ---"I saw your heart when you thought no one would".... you saw my heart when I thought no one was looking."

[Preston Stell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another stunner from Anis Mojgani. I came here to feel something and Anis presented love: joy and heartbreak...the way we all know love. Thank you for reminding me and helping me open up to let your poems do their wondrous work.

[Kate Wyant · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had to pause this one and come back to it. Good Valentine’s Day book. Probably his sexiest poems. Lots of fruit. Sexy sad poems. Not nearly my favorite of his work but always a delight to read. The Junes though!!!!! Many good ones throughout.

[Annis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartbreak and love both set before us in his beautiful style ~ Love for himself, mankind, animals, the planet. Another gorgeous gift from Anis Mojgani.

[Amanda Dissinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anis Mojgani never misses.

[Mackenzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[andrea]

new favorite, and that's really saying something