Good Grief, the Ground

by Margaret Ray, Stephanie Burt (Foreword)

Margaret Ray is pulling back the curtains on our societal performance of culture, guiding an exposing light to the daily performance that is life in a woman’s body. Selected by Stephanie Burt as the winner of the A. Poulin Jr. Poetry Prize, Ray’s Good Grief, the Ground interrogates the everyday violences nonchalantly inflicted unto women through personal, political, and national lenses. Moving between adolescence and adulthood, Ray alternates between dark humor and heart-wrenching honesty to explore grief, anxiety, queer longing, girlhood, escape from an abusive relationship, and the dangers of lending language to a thing.  With stunning wit and precision and attention, we see Ray show us what it is to be human: the mess of tenderness and darkness and animosity.  Out of the heavy Florida dusk, out of peach juice and late-night swimming pool break-ins and glances across grocery store aisles come these completely captivating poems. In the words of Stephanie Burt: “Come and see. Take care. Dive in.”

Genres: Poetry

104 pages, Paperback

First published April 4, 2023

About the author

Margaret Ray grew up in Gainesville, Florida and holds an MFA from Warren Wilson College. A winner of the Third Coast Poetry Prize and a chapbook fellowship from the Poetry Society of America for her chapbook Superstitions of the Mid-Atlantic, her poems have appeared in Narrative, The Gettysburg Review, Threepenny Review, Michigan Quarterly Review, Alaska Quarterly Review, and elsewhere. She teaches in New Jersey.

Reviews

[michelle king · Rating 5 out of 5]

read in one sitting.

if i wrote something this phenomenal, i'd feel no need to write again. kidding. but if there is such thing as literary perfection, this collection of poetry reaches that standard. this is the kind of masterpiece i can only wish to accomplish in my lifetime. it's everything i wanted Cul-de-sac Angels to be. this is a brilliant examination of the wildness that exists in the mundane, the perils and pleasures of becoming a woman (or a human) in this world, and the forces that seek to destroy us. and there were a lot of frogs, too... automatic 5 stars from me.

would recommend this to anyone who appreciates beauty in all its strange forms.

[Jessica Poli · Rating 5 out of 5]

The kind of book that kept making me want to tap the person next to me on the shoulder and say “Listen to THIS—“; a stunning and beautiful collection.

[Ashly Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this book up solely based on the title and I am so glad I judged this book by the cover! I have never heard of this poet before, but felt drawn to the book just by title alone and my gut instincts proved to be fruitful this time!

This is an astounding collection of pieces exploring girlhood and (young) adulthood with all its many pitfalls and triumphs, gorgeously manipulating the language into unforgettable images all the way through.

Definitely interested in finding more from this author!

[Eilish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poetry

I picked this up in a bookshop and took a picture of a poem that resonated, then another, then bought it.

Grief is an empty room was the first

Themes

Growing up in Central Florida

Your younger self

Grief

Playing a part

Living again

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not sure I fully understood it, but lots of beautiful moments.

[K.C. Bratt-Pfotenhauer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Margaret Ray’s debut collection, Good Grief, the Ground, walks a delicate line, balancing on the tightrope of ever-increasing precarity we call life. It humorously juxtaposes things like frozen placenta in an ice cube tray with poems about physics, alter-egos with astonishment, yet never fails to remind its reader of seriousness. Make no mistake: this is a serious book, one that traces a taut chronology from the trials of adolescence to the routine heartbreak of adulthood. Ray chronicles the tiny griefs and enduring joys of life, loss, and love with remarkable compassion, asking her reader to “Stay, / just long enough / to let me look at you in the fading light.” Run, don’t walk, to pick up this collection when it comes out in April.

[Karen Prive · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend introduced me to a poem by Margaret Ray, and I've been waiting for this collection since. Ray boldly writes about what it means to be a woman in America, tackling issues such as peeping toms, menstruation, and frogs - lots of frogs! She does so with beautiful, surprising language - such as in "Divorced Invertebrate" where she talks about being a new divorcee as being a lobster, clacking as she walks and waving a claw to people she knew. When she speaks of happiness as "the half-tamed deer I coaxed into the clearing and want only to be near" I identified weepily. This is a shocking and gorgeous collection of poetry you cannot miss.

[Megan Alyse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant debut collection where Ray takes the confessional to a whole new level. These poems are multifaceted and complex, accessible and intriguing. I love how many literary references are sprinkled throughout as well. A must read

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was surprised to see that these poems were so highly rated. I don’t like the way they’re written, but I guess that’s on me. The author didn’t seem to put much care into the pacing of her poems and where she placed line breaks. Again, poems are highly subjective. This book of poems is 3/5- okay.

[Abby Rosenbaum · Rating 3 out of 5]

“They’re piling into the car and no one
is dead yet and the girl has that sensation
she keeps having of falling and falling and then
good grief, the ground, and it’s made
of wet wind and something she won’t be able
to name for years”

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

"You can look, or you can look away, and who am I
to tell you what to do with your monsters?
You can leave them on the road
and walk home without having taken a single photo."

This is more of a 3 star read for me but there's a reference to Battlestar Galactica so frak it 4 stars.

[Karen Jorgensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. This was phenomenal. Everything I wanted in a poem book. I read this in two days, but you could definitely sit with each poem for a while.

[Dora Prieto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning and uncannily relatable... this is one of the best books of poetry I've read. Shaking in my boots! Had to savour it slowly and then reread it all at once this afternoon.

[Megan Pinto · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gorgeous debut. Feeling so grateful to have encountered these poems.

[Kane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Among us

[Ellen Bed · Rating 3 out of 5]

More confusing than Alex Dimitrov at times. Still really good stuff, the whole collection was strong but I really liked the first bit the most.
Would recommend!

[Krishna Shah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a collection of poems. I totally enjoyed reading this book. I liked some of the poems more than others but overall well written.

[Sarah Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely magical, inviting, and memorable collection of poems by my amazing colleague, Maggie!

[Alicia Wu · Rating 3 out of 5]

this made me feel gloomy

[naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Good Grief, the Ground" is a collection on girlhood. Specifically, the violent undertones of a girlhood in South Florida. Yet, we are able to peer into the chambers of past, present, and future as we are presented with childhood reflections and alternate realities. Ray forces us to reckon with the grief, tragedy, and longing associated with coming into our bodies. This collection is bold and unwavering in its pursuit; Ray is unafraid of the grotesque as well as the all-familiar. She breathes new air into what we already know, and widens our lens to see what we don't.

[Emma Harding · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Good Grief, the Ground," by Margaret Ray, is a poignant poetry collection that resonates with raw emotion, feminist perspectives, and the vibrant essence of Florida. Ray's words are not merely lines on paper but rather frosted windows into her life, offering readers an intimate glimpse into her experiences and reflections.

One of the most striking aspects of this collection is Ray's ability to infuse wonder into grievous poetry with such authenticity and depth. Each poem feels like a fragment of her life, laid bare for all to see. Whether she's grappling with grief, celebrating moments of joy, or deciding which alone-based idea she wants to fuck, marry, or kill, Ray's voice is unwaveringly honest and evocative.

Furthermore, Ray's feminist sensibilities permeate throughout the collection, adding layers of complexity to her work. She explores themes of womanhood, identity, and empowerment with a keen eye and a fierce determination. Her words serve as a rallying cry for equality and a testament to the strength and resilience of women everywhere.

But perhaps what sets "Good Grief, the Ground" apart is its strong sense of place. Florida, with its lush landscapes and vibrant culture, serves as both backdrop and muse for Ray's poetry. Through her vivid imagery and lyrical descriptions, she paints a picture of a state thundering through confusing bog and bloody water.

Margaret Ray's poetic voice is one that demands to be heard, offering a unique blend of personal narrative, feminist insight, and Floridian representation. Overall, "Good Grief, the Ground" is a captivating and thought-provoking collection that leaves a lasting impression on readers.