These Trees, Those Leaves, This Flower, That Fruit: Poems

by Hayan Charara

A thoughtful new collection of poems, one that deconstructs the deceptively simple question of what it means to be good―a good person, a good citizen, a good teacher, a good poet, a good father.

With These Trees, Those Leaves, This Flower, That Fruit, Hayan Charara presents readers with a medley of ambitious analyses, written in characteristically wry verse. He takes philosophers to task, jousts with academics, and scrutinizes hollow gestures of empathy, exposing the dangers of thinking ourselves “separate / from [our] thoughts and experiences.” After all, “No work of love / will flourish out of guilt, fear, or hollowness of heart.” But how do we act on fullness of heart? How, knowing as we do that “genocide is inscribed in our earliest and holiest texts”?

Thoughtful but never preachy, Charara sits beside us, granting us access to life’s countless unglamorous dilemmas: crushing a spider when we promised we wouldn’t, nearing madness from a newborn’s weeping, resenting our lovers for what happened in a dream. “Good poems demand to be written from inside the poet,” we are reminded. And that is where we find ourselves here: inside a lively and ethical mind, entertained by Charara’s good company even as goodness challenges us to do more.

Genres: Poetry

112 pages, Paperback

First published April 12, 2022

Reviews

[Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were quite a few poems I liked in this collection- and I would have rated this higher if it weren’t for the non cohesive nature of it.

Personally, I don’t think poetry collections necessarily need to consist of poems that interweave with one another, but the problem with this collection is that the non cohesiveness wasn’t due to different poems clashing, but rather different parts of a single poem not going with one another.

That said, the poems I did like- I loved. They’re lyrical, inspiring, and most importantly : human.

[grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this book because I like the connections to nature but I didn't feel connected to it and I think it is because this collection is so all over the place. All of the pieces have similar themes but they are written in different styles that it felt choppy. I liked the prose and longer pieces more than the haikus (but the haikus were good as well).

[Nora · Rating 3 out of 5]

this guy loves trees !

[Samma · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had mixed feelings about the meaning of the poems. It was like a type of conversation on a plane with a stranger in where I can’t figure out if I like them or not but I want to know their whole life story.

[Lily Poppen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first read of Charara’s work and I think he shines the most when telling stories about sharing anecdotes about harm and the way it transforms or is replicated as one ages and is witnessed by his students in “Terrorism” and in “Nothing Happened in 1999.” “Apokaluptein” was outstanding and I found his single poems stood out rather than the lack of cohesion throughout with the fruit/leaves motif.

[J.C. Reilly · Rating 3 out of 5]

The poet has a wry voice which I appreciated and a sudden ending line which is always shocking but always just right. Many of the poems were several pages long, and sometimes it worked better than other times. It was an interesting collection over all.

[Vivien · Rating 4 out of 5]

Porch Haiku, elegy with apples, self portrait as trees

"Some of us want to honey locust, / or hackberry or sumac. / Some of us simply do not / want to pine or willow or ash."

"all mirror and constellations / showing humanity to itself / none of which / will ensure our survival"

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

THESE TREES, THOSE LEAVES, THIS FLOWER, THAT FRUIT: Poems by Hayan Charara is an enjoyable read! These poems range from haikus to more long form verse. The themes are also varied from nature, parenthood, death and being a poet. In case you’re curious the following fruits are mentioned in this book: pear, fig, apple, plum, persimmon, grape, and pomegranate. I liked the self-portrait series of poems throughout this book. My fave poem is the opening poem Self-Portrait in Retrospect. This is his fourth poetry book and his first book was published in 2001. I’d be curious to read his earlier poetry to see the progression.
.
Thank you to @milkweed_books for my uncorrected proof!

[Sarah Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read a lot of great (and not so great) poetry that has inspired me, angered me, made me sad, or made me reflect. Ultimately, every one of these usually led to some form of hope or encouragement.

This collection was refreshing because it’s devoid of fluff, BS’ing, or unnecessary stanzas inserted solely for the sake of hope. It’s stark and unapologetically raw, and it doesn’t care whether you agree or disagree with its message. The point isn’t to persuade you; it’s to present the truth as it is, unfiltered and without any guidance or support.

[hector petri · Rating 4 out of 5]

a lot of thought provoking poems. i liked how he related nature to a lot of societal facets in place today. also liked how observant of his surroundings he seemed. plainly, in a most descriptive way, explaining what was in front of him but giving it a profound twist at some point through the poem. overall, easy read but eye opening, all the same.

*gonna edit with a quote when i look back through it at my girlfriends place*

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not sure how to feel about this one. There were some thought-provoking poems and I can definitely see Charara’s wit coming into play, but the collection felt a bit choppy and scattered. What kind of kept things together was the “Self-Portrait” series, though even some of those poems didn’t quite strike me the same way others did. I think my favorite from the series (and perhaps this entire collection) was “Self-Portrait in Retrospect.”

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A political poet doesn't necessarily tell people how to vote, how to think, or what specific attitudes they should have, but deals with the political facts of our lives- that we live at the pleasure of people with enormous power and very little compassion, that there is very little justice in the world, that most of what young people are told, and older for that matter, about the nature of this country, this America, is nonsense."

[Sarah Spaulding Avento · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciated the mediations on everyday life present in this volume, but it was definitely not my favorite book of the sort. While there was definitely power, conflict, and deep emotion present in the pages, I was not struck by the poetics. I can't speak to the author's motivations of his poetics, but they left me feeling underwhelmed. I appreciated the content, but did not love the poetics.

[Amie Whittemore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charara's collection is so delightful. I love its mix of snark and heart, the humor that laces it throughout. The speaker in these poems is smart and exasperated and heartless and heartbroken and observant and honest. Just a joy to spend time with this book. Highly recommend!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've found so much soft poetry, with words that fold around you and validate your feelings. This isn't that type of poetry, it's rough as sandpaper most of the time. I'm not sure I'd often seek it out, but I ended up being glad I read it.

[Frank Pajunen · Rating 5 out of 5]

a book that inspires at turns wonder at the beauties of life, and concern and understanding of its sadnesses and cruelties, and at times both, it wrestles successfully with the varied shades of joy and devastation that afflict humankind. I loved it

[Shayla]

huh, not sure how I felt about this one. Made me laugh out loud multiple times, but overall didn't leave much of an impact. I appreciated what was being said and how human it all was, but I can't honestly say that I was ever wowed. Might return to this one day and see how I feel then.

[Kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful, compelling, and provacative with only a few clunkers.

[Rae]

Contemporary poetry. Lebanese-American. Unresolved haiku. Milkweed Editions. Cover buy.

[Cristy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Favorite poems:

"Under the Sun"
"Self-Portrait as Trees"

[Nav · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think the book's summary caught it pretty well with "thoughtful but [not] preachy".

[Laura B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

not particularly my flavor in its lack of terribly playful sonic or linguistic moments. but some really shocking/moving final lines in poems, and a beautiful ear for the natural pacing of a line.

[jennifer]

I liked especially the intricate parts on the natural world and also history/politics.

[Jessica Kantrowitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just breathtakingly beautiful poetry.

[Katy Li · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the most uneven collections I’ve read - what hits hits, but there are some real misses

[Alyssa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Beautifully written, but not for me. TW: pet death, animal death, cruelty.

[Ally Wetherhold · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5
Fugue! What a poem.

[Ainsley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hate poetry books tbh

[Regina · Rating 4 out of 5]

annotated as gift for friend !

[Todd Saukko · Rating 4 out of 5]

I greatly enjoyed this Detroit poet's work.