The Beautiful Ugly Truth: The Poetry of Jeanann Verlee
By Diana Vidals
When I think of poetry I think of snobby, dramatized, metaphor-heavy stanzas that leave me feeling dumb and uncultured for not being able to find meaning in their big words and figurative sayings. Other times I think about four lines accompanied by a squiggly drawing that I am forced to believe is art. Poetry had repelled me for so long that I couldn’t find any meaning in it until my freshman year of college when I read the works of Jeanann Verlee.
Acclaimed for her talent as a poet and writer, Jeanann Verlee’s writing has been shared in journals, poetry slams, and her three published books, Racing Hummingbirds, Said the Maniac to the Muse, and Prey. Verlee’s work discusses a range of topics such as mental health, sexual predation, trauma survival, domestic abuse, and gender equity. Verlee brings a sense of vulgarity to these heavy and taboo topics, stripping them of any sugarcoating. Verlee’s works are raw, refreshing, and real. My favorite of Verlee’s poems have to be “Unsolicited Advice to Adolescent Girls with Crooked Teeth and Pink Hair,” “40 Love Letters” and “Communion.” Through these poems, Verlee gives the reader a view into her experiences with romances, toxic relationships, trauma, and family.
Image Sourced From Pinterest; Poet Jeanann Verlee
Unsolicited Advice to Adolescent Girls with Crooked Teeth and Pink Hair
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYZkLy0GHZ0
Through analogies of pervy boys, fights in the school bathroom, and toxic romances, “Unsolicited Advice to Adolescent Girls with Crooked Teeth and Pink Hair” tackles themes of adolescence, romance, and growing up. This poem, like many of Verlee’s works, stuck out to me because of the way it can convey a story with a limited amount of words and context. Through a few words and analogies, Verlee effortlessly paints a story that although we may not all have experienced, can recognize as fun and fucked up girlhood.
Communion
JEANANN VERLEE PERFORMS "COMMUNION"
“Communion” tackles the difficult topics of abuse, domestic violence, and relationships. While Verlee often discusses delicate subject matter, “Communion” stands out as a very vulnerable poem that discusses the fears, insecurities, and feelings of despair that come with the aftermath of abusive relationships. To me, “Communion” showcases Verlee’s ability to write about such heavy topics, balancing vulnerability and genuineness.
40 Love Letters
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsgxP3-3_qY
“40 Love Letters” is the poem that started it all for me. Through a listicle poem of 40 love letters recounting funny, sad, and painstakingly real romantic experiences, Verlee tells a story of a love that is not so easily forgotten. “40 Love Letters” remains my favorite poem of all time. In moments when I am enduring the horrific process of awkward dates and meeting new people, it is a simple and honest reminder that (fortunately and unfortunately) there will be more to come.
Image Sourced From Pinterest; Poet Jeanann Verlee
For more beautiful works such as these, check out Jeanann Verlee’s published works Racing Hummingbirds, Said the Maniac to the Muse, and Prey as well as her performances on YouTube.
