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Storyteller: 100 Poem Letters
For over a decade, many of the stories and poems I have written eventually turned into songs, and for that, I am grateful. Over the past year, much of what I have written has turned into letters to people, their stories, and the seasons they are in. Even though I suppose, technically, what you will find in this book is considered poetry, I hope they read as letters for people, places, things, seasons, years–letters for the story and for the storyteller. There are one hundred poem letters in this book. I share them with you because I believe you have a story to tell, and I hope these poem letters encourage you to keep telling it. ––Morgan Harper Nichols Writer, Artist, Musician
109 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 22, 2017
292 people are currently reading
2099 people want to read
About the author
Morgan Harper Nichols
16 books1,121 followersMorgan Harper Nichols is an artist, poet, and musician who makes her work around people and their stories.
Morgan spent the first few years of her adult life as a college admission counselor, and then, as a full-time touring singer-songwriter and musician. It was on the road that she cultivated her curiosity and passion for the written word and art, and slowly began to share her art with others online.
In 2017, Morgan started a project where she invites people to submit their stories to her website. From there, she creates art inspired by what they send her, and then, sends them the art, for free. Nearly everything Morgan creates and shares today is from this project, and she always keeps the names and stories anonymous. The fruit of this project is shared daily around social media, in publications, on murals, and more.
Morgan spent the first few years of her adult life as a college admission counselor, and then, as a full-time touring singer-songwriter and musician. It was on the road that she cultivated her curiosity and passion for the written word and art, and slowly began to share her art with others online.
In 2017, Morgan started a project where she invites people to submit their stories to her website. From there, she creates art inspired by what they send her, and then, sends them the art, for free. Nearly everything Morgan creates and shares today is from this project, and she always keeps the names and stories anonymous. The fruit of this project is shared daily around social media, in publications, on murals, and more.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 174 reviews
August 2, 2022
Unsure of where you'd land,
I wore gloves to keep the colors,
like water, at bay.
But your colors are the kind to run free,
and they got to my hands
anyway. p66
STORYTELLER: 100 POEM LETTERS is a comforting, familiar collection of contemporary mainstream poetry from well-known poet, Morgan Harper Nichols. It was my first read from her and I quite enjoyed her work, for the genre.
What I enjoyed most, in the case of STORYTELLER, was the form--a collection of poem letters, or poems with a subject line with the address, "for:". Sometimes the poems take the form of actual letters to individuals or even objects or concepts which appeared as the poem's subject. Other times, the poem describes the subject. In my opinion, Nichol's form is successful because the subject always brings to bear on or clarifies the poem in some way.
Not every poem is great or even very good, I think, but the collection is very good because of this form. I was actually tempted for ten seconds to sign up for this poet's Storyteller app 😅 ... and then I remembered I review books. I don't fan out. Ahem.
Rating 4.5 stars (rounding down because I think about 50% of the poems are only pretty good)
Finished August 2022
Recommended for fans of contemporary mainstream poetry, healing poetry, poetry with clever form; readers seeking diverse voices
I wore gloves to keep the colors,
like water, at bay.
But your colors are the kind to run free,
and they got to my hands
anyway. p66
STORYTELLER: 100 POEM LETTERS is a comforting, familiar collection of contemporary mainstream poetry from well-known poet, Morgan Harper Nichols. It was my first read from her and I quite enjoyed her work, for the genre.
What I enjoyed most, in the case of STORYTELLER, was the form--a collection of poem letters, or poems with a subject line with the address, "for:". Sometimes the poems take the form of actual letters to individuals or even objects or concepts which appeared as the poem's subject. Other times, the poem describes the subject. In my opinion, Nichol's form is successful because the subject always brings to bear on or clarifies the poem in some way.
Not every poem is great or even very good, I think, but the collection is very good because of this form. I was actually tempted for ten seconds to sign up for this poet's Storyteller app 😅 ... and then I remembered I review books. I don't fan out. Ahem.
Rating 4.5 stars (rounding down because I think about 50% of the poems are only pretty good)
Finished August 2022
Recommended for fans of contemporary mainstream poetry, healing poetry, poetry with clever form; readers seeking diverse voices
July 17, 2020
For the girl telling her friends goodbye
as she walks home, alone:
When night has settled into itself
and all of the friends have said goodbye,
and you're left to wrestle
those same old thoughts
with a playlist looping
those same old songs.
If all of these nights
seem to all end the same
may you learn to be able
to see it this way:
beauty can still be found
in the seemingly mundane,
and you are still growing,
even in subtle change.
as she walks home, alone:
When night has settled into itself
and all of the friends have said goodbye,
and you're left to wrestle
those same old thoughts
with a playlist looping
those same old songs.
If all of these nights
seem to all end the same
may you learn to be able
to see it this way:
beauty can still be found
in the seemingly mundane,
and you are still growing,
even in subtle change.
Read
January 31, 2021i think poetry collections can be very difficult to rate so i try to just enjoy them for what they are. and i really enjoyed this one. i think the power of these poems comes from a central theme of: it's going to be okay, the sun will rise and you will climb a mountain. which was actually really great to hear. i loved the language she used and the calm that settled over me while i was reading it. i don't know if there was anything super mind-blowing and life-changing about these letters, but they were comforting and kind and a nice place to land.
March 25, 2021
reading poetry collections, not to mention writing them, is a very personal thing… which makes reviewing them, at least for me, nearly impossible to do :) so because I can’t get into very many details, let me just say this… I liked it, but it wasn’t my own personal favourite :) I think a lot of people will enjoy it even more, but I prefer a bit different poetry style, and that’s ok :) it was still a lovely and very enjoyable experience for me and I would still recommend you to give it a try if it sounds interesting :) 4 stars
XOXO
A
XOXO
A
February 10, 2018
Hear the wind as it howls around you
over the ridges and into the valley where you stand in the drying weeds,
with a sense of new days coming.
See the setting sun
turning barren lands
into rows of endless yellow
that now has you thinking,
maybe the change of a season
is more than sorrow,
but a leap, a promise
for hope
tomorrow.
—-
This is such a wonderful collection of inspirational poems that fill you with confidence, motivation and most important of all, love for your own self. She shines the light during the darkest moments of our lives and makes you appreciate the simplest things in life.
over the ridges and into the valley where you stand in the drying weeds,
with a sense of new days coming.
See the setting sun
turning barren lands
into rows of endless yellow
that now has you thinking,
maybe the change of a season
is more than sorrow,
but a leap, a promise
for hope
tomorrow.
—-
This is such a wonderful collection of inspirational poems that fill you with confidence, motivation and most important of all, love for your own self. She shines the light during the darkest moments of our lives and makes you appreciate the simplest things in life.
December 17, 2017
GORGEOUS
Read
August 12, 2022I found this collection at Half Price Books and grabbed it solely on the basis of seeing everyone share the authors instagram posts. I found the concept of this collection very moving and the works in it really affirming in a way that explains the way the author resonates with everyone at this time.
June 6, 2020
There were many good poems in this collection, but I personally did not relate to as many as I would like.
A few felt repetitive, and the themes were all very similar. I wanted a bit more from this collection.
A few felt repetitive, and the themes were all very similar. I wanted a bit more from this collection.
February 4, 2021
I truly do not have the words to describe how beautiful this book is. Morgan’s writing is absolutely stunning, which quite a few people have learned from her Instagram. Every poem in this book is written as a letter to a specific person, but I saw myself in almost each of them. This is one of the most inspiring poetry collections I have ever encountered, and I know I will be revisiting this often. I’m so grateful to Morgan for sharing her huge light with the world because it has certainly changed my small slice of it.
June 19, 2019
Beautiful.
Simply beautiful and inspiring words to motivate positive thinking and to affirm your purpose. You are alive. You are loved. You will be okay. This is how it will make you feel.
Simply beautiful and inspiring words to motivate positive thinking and to affirm your purpose. You are alive. You are loved. You will be okay. This is how it will make you feel.
January 4, 2020
If you follow Morgan Harper Nichols on Instagram, then you’ll have a very good idea of what this book will entail. Morgan writes letters to people and their stories, offering them comfort, hope, and warmth. This book is a collection of those poem letters she has written. Reading this book is like receiving a huge hug; she reminds you everything is going to be okay. If you need some comfort in your life right now, I couldn’t recommend this book more
October 21, 2018
2.5 stars.
Very few poems in this collection did anything for me - of the about 100 that are in here, I marked only 8... most of them I just found boring and unimaginative.
(Also, there were so many grammatical and spelling errors? I know this is self-published but... I think that's something that could've really been avoided.)
Very few poems in this collection did anything for me - of the about 100 that are in here, I marked only 8... most of them I just found boring and unimaginative.
(Also, there were so many grammatical and spelling errors? I know this is self-published but... I think that's something that could've really been avoided.)
April 6, 2018
read this in one sitting and will definitely read again and again,, i found it beautifully written and i loved the ‘For the..’ format before every poem. :)
February 6, 2021
Good Collection
This isn’t a bad collection of poems, or affirmations. I think Morgan’s writing is very inspiring and her voice is needed. This collection had a few grammatical errors and with the length of it, the poems began to feel very much the same but I’d still recommend.
This isn’t a bad collection of poems, or affirmations. I think Morgan’s writing is very inspiring and her voice is needed. This collection had a few grammatical errors and with the length of it, the poems began to feel very much the same but I’d still recommend.
Read
July 27, 2024Poetry is so refreshing to read + I’ve been a fan of Morgan Harper Nichols for years! This collection made my writer heart sparkle 💖
I’m not as obsessed with it as I thought I was going to be though, which is sad, I guess I prefer more anecdotal poetry and this wasn’t. But I still highly recommend! Especially if you haven’t read poetry before, this is a good easy read to get you started!
I’m not as obsessed with it as I thought I was going to be though, which is sad, I guess I prefer more anecdotal poetry and this wasn’t. But I still highly recommend! Especially if you haven’t read poetry before, this is a good easy read to get you started!
November 17, 2020
Nothing makes me feel at peace quite like the words of MHN. Her poetry is so near and dear to my heart. I loved this collection so much and highlighted something on nearly every page.
August 12, 2021
Whew... this kind of writing reminds me when I traveled with pen and a poetry journal, by mentioning the inspiration it comes.
January 6, 2022
MHN could publish her grocery list and I just know it’d be tear-jerkingly beautiful
August 17, 2024
I can't get enough of Morgan Harper Nichols 🙏🏾 Reading this book will not disappoint ❤️
August 27, 2021
Ahhh we love a good poem book. My fav was ‘For the one searching for more’. Ask me about it and i can send you a picture of it. Anyways, it was a beautiful set of lovely poems. Most were simple and I liked that. 10/10. I bet Caroline’s review is better than mine, we will see…
June 15, 2020
This is the poem letter that drove home for me:
"For the abandoned storefront painted in blue:
For awhile it seemed
too good to be true.
When they painted the walls,
and put up the sign,
it felt like things
were for real this time.
But something happened
between then and now,
and there are still those days
you try to figure out:
'Where did everyone go?
Why did everyone leave?
Who are all these people
carrying on
without me?
I watch as they pass,
and they say so many things,
but they stop and say nothing to me.'
Oh, dear abandoned storefront in blue,
they may not know you,
but you are still you.
Your walls have been woven
in the tapestry of this city,
and no matter the things
that have changed
this year,
by grace,
there is still
a reason
you're here."
I don't know if this was her intention, but I feel that this poem explains exactly how social media treats social reform movements, and I feel like there are a lot of comparisons in how social media handled the "#MeToo" surge in 2017 to how it is handling #BlackLivesMatter now.
As a generalization, white people feel threatened by Black Lives Matter the same way that men felt threatened by the Me Too movement. And I swear to God if social media lets the momentum for BLM slip the way it did for MeToo, I will have something to SAY about the pattern of performative allyship that social media enables us to adopt.
An intersectional takeaway from a book I found succinct and genuine, which I normally don't say about shorter poetry.
"For the abandoned storefront painted in blue:
For awhile it seemed
too good to be true.
When they painted the walls,
and put up the sign,
it felt like things
were for real this time.
But something happened
between then and now,
and there are still those days
you try to figure out:
'Where did everyone go?
Why did everyone leave?
Who are all these people
carrying on
without me?
I watch as they pass,
and they say so many things,
but they stop and say nothing to me.'
Oh, dear abandoned storefront in blue,
they may not know you,
but you are still you.
Your walls have been woven
in the tapestry of this city,
and no matter the things
that have changed
this year,
by grace,
there is still
a reason
you're here."
I don't know if this was her intention, but I feel that this poem explains exactly how social media treats social reform movements, and I feel like there are a lot of comparisons in how social media handled the "#MeToo" surge in 2017 to how it is handling #BlackLivesMatter now.
As a generalization, white people feel threatened by Black Lives Matter the same way that men felt threatened by the Me Too movement. And I swear to God if social media lets the momentum for BLM slip the way it did for MeToo, I will have something to SAY about the pattern of performative allyship that social media enables us to adopt.
An intersectional takeaway from a book I found succinct and genuine, which I normally don't say about shorter poetry.
July 14, 2022
For the one with high hopes for seasons to come:
Hear the wind as it howls around you
over the ridges and into the valley
where you stand in the drying weeds,
with a sense of new days coming.
See the setting sun
turning barren lands
into rows of endless yellow
that now has you thinking,
maybe the change of a season
is more than sorrow,
but a leap, a promise
for hope
tomorrow.
..............................
This year will not end
like last year at all.
You have learned to be free.
You have learned to be strong.
You have held onto light
when the night was too long.
You have braved many fears.
You learned a new song,
and through all of these valleys
you have learned to stand tall.
This year will not end
like last year at all.
~Morgan Harper Nichols
...............................
With this, we've achieved our 2022 reading goal in the first half of the year.🐰
Time to shutdown goodreads now ;)
Hear the wind as it howls around you
over the ridges and into the valley
where you stand in the drying weeds,
with a sense of new days coming.
See the setting sun
turning barren lands
into rows of endless yellow
that now has you thinking,
maybe the change of a season
is more than sorrow,
but a leap, a promise
for hope
tomorrow.
..............................
This year will not end
like last year at all.
You have learned to be free.
You have learned to be strong.
You have held onto light
when the night was too long.
You have braved many fears.
You learned a new song,
and through all of these valleys
you have learned to stand tall.
This year will not end
like last year at all.
~Morgan Harper Nichols
...............................
With this, we've achieved our 2022 reading goal in the first half of the year.🐰
Time to shutdown goodreads now ;)
November 4, 2021
The poem in this book is warm. They feel handcrafted with a careful touch to sharing hope. Simplicity wins.
The book is written for everyone. It is for the lonely, for the sad, for the happy and lucky. It is for emotions, pain, agony, hope, and love. It tells you to your strength with mountains and valleys. It shows you how valuable you are with lights and it mostly tells you what probably all of us needs to hear from time to time: that everything will be alright.
My favorite part from the book would be how the poems are dedicated to the people going through the mundane moments of life which are core components of us. The moments and doubts that bind us together. It connects everyone and makes you wonder wouldn't our roots be interconnected if traced back?
The book is written for everyone. It is for the lonely, for the sad, for the happy and lucky. It is for emotions, pain, agony, hope, and love. It tells you to your strength with mountains and valleys. It shows you how valuable you are with lights and it mostly tells you what probably all of us needs to hear from time to time: that everything will be alright.
My favorite part from the book would be how the poems are dedicated to the people going through the mundane moments of life which are core components of us. The moments and doubts that bind us together. It connects everyone and makes you wonder wouldn't our roots be interconnected if traced back?
July 12, 2018
One of my best friends from college sent me this book in a difficult season of life and it was exactly what I needed. The poems seem like they are written just for me; there are so many that took my breath away because they spoke directly to me, profoundly and concisely saying just what I needed to hear in that very moment. I also loved the format of the book, with each poem given a header of who it is for.
I’ve already purchased Storyteller as gifts for two more friends because the world needs these poems. I will plan to read this book again and again, and I even hope to memorize several of the poems that struck me to my core.
I’ve already purchased Storyteller as gifts for two more friends because the world needs these poems. I will plan to read this book again and again, and I even hope to memorize several of the poems that struck me to my core.
June 20, 2020
It’s been awhile since I could connect to a poetry collection, but I really enjoyed this one. Told in 100 letter/poems Nichols is the reassuring voice we all need in our lives.
CW: religion & faith mentions
CW: religion & faith mentions
July 14, 2025
idk how I’ve never read this! I love Morgan’s art and thought I would miss it in the pieces but they stood for themselves. I will say the kindle edition had a looot of typos so I knocked down a star for that 🥲
October 2, 2019
Such a beautiful collection of poetry in simple words that sparks inspiration and bolsters the mood.
A must-read book.
A must-read book.
July 19, 2020
“More than she
was known
for her accomplishments,
she was known
for the way
she loved.”
was known
for her accomplishments,
she was known
for the way
she loved.”
March 12, 2021
Never really been into poetry however I now need to read everything Morgan has written.
February 14, 2025
I love how they all start with some variation of “for the one who…” There were so many that made me think of certain people my life so I sent them out as valentines. 🥰
Displaying 1 - 30 of 174 reviews