A Flower That Rose: Poems & Essays in Psalms

by Kevin Anglade

For many millennials, navigating the daily pressures of life and the internet is not only a challenge, but draining. Nonetheless, it is the reality. How could anyone possibly live a life designed for them when the gram says that they are not good enough? A Flower That Rose is a personal account by Kevin Anglade centered through honesty and patience. The story itself tells us that without community at the forefront of our personal development, we are nothing and will suffer amid the process. This book will start honest dialogue for those interested in exploring the ups and downs of becoming an adult within their own lives. Especially when it appears that they are down and out for the count.

192 pages, Paperback

Published July 21, 2021

Reviews

[Tre’ Mason · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great. Each poems walks the reader through the life of a young Black man in America. The constant battle and struggle of existing in society is displayed. Through each and every poem you can feel the faith, pain, courage, strength, resilience and ambition of the writer.

My favorite poem was Nature(To Kevin) & XX-The Gram

Truly a great display of planting seeds, nurturing roses

[T'challa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful journey of a young black man wrapped in verse and essay. Essays that give a glimpse at the makings of a man, educated and young grappling with life, love and the pursuit of peace. Being jolted by the realization you are young educated and broke is a shocking but familiar narrative that does not always get the limelight. There are no sacred spaces; the entire collection is a sacred space where abusive women, uncovered lies, depression and dances with suicide are washed away with Psalms. Pain is moved in reflection, lost in released tears at gravesites and healed arms can embrace family. The cadence of the poetry is something like the beating of a heart; the author's heart. Being able to listen to a man tell his story with full transparency and expound with poetry was a beautiful reading experience. The photography was so welcomed as well. To see the child like smile of the author as he taught the beautiful students of Ghana was refreshing as a sunrise after cloudy days. The contribution of the foreword and afterward were the appetizer and dessert to a meal of a read. A great body of work, I look forward to more from Kevin Anglade.

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

A millennial relatable book with poetry that flows like raps. The essays were relevant to me and my generation, but my expectations were not met with poetry. After a marathon binge of A Rose that Grew from Concrete, Maya Angelou, and Inua Ellams, it fell short for me lyrically. It was entertaining enough to not DNF, but it felt like a freestyle when I expected more polishing. That criticism aside, it was an enjoyable, entertaining, and inspiring book.

[Shelah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.

A flower that rose is an autobiography of a young African boy who grew up in the US. The book is written in a prose and poetry format that tells the struggle of the author trying to make ends meet and working extra hard but still being unable to get rid of his debts.
One thing I love about this book is that you can feel the connection to the author. You can feel the pain, hope, joy, love when reading it. It's like you become one with the words.

The topics the book addresses are:
Family
Hardship
Mental health
Faith
Infidelity
Toxic relationship
Cyber stalking
Love
Reconciliation

I love that we get the see the author grow and thrive despite the hardship he faced.

The only problem I had with this book is the poem format. They didn't read like poems, they read more like raps or maybe spoken words and the rhyming gave me slight headache. It would have been much better if the author forgot about the rhyming and focused more on making it sound like poems.

However, I will totally recommend this book. It was a beautiful and fast paced read.

[SHE WELL READ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, this book was truly an emotional rollercoaster! As I was thrust into the world of Kevin Anglade, I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was surprised by the insight and wit Anglade uses to convey his message. Witnessing life through Anglade's eyes is something I didn't know I needed. To read this book is to learn, to praise, and to love. Overall, this book inspired me to be persistent with myself, my peers, my family, and my purpose. Anglade's passion inspired me, and I'm sure this book will inspire everyone that reads it. His casual nature is pure and I'm so thankful to have gone on this journey with the writer. I see myself in Anglade; I truly believe that we can all relate to his heartbreaking journey. A must read!

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid 3.5 . Very lyrically pleasing with poems that read like raps. Interesting way of weaving essays and poetry . Would have loved to her more about his time in Ghana and his relationship with his mother . However, an overall a solid body of work