Survival Takes a Wild Imagination: Poems
by Fariha Róisín

In the powerful follow up to her critically acclaimed debut collection, poet and activist Fariha Róisín is writing, praying, clawing, and scratching her way out of the grips of generational trauma on the search for the freedom her mother never received and the kindness she couldn’t give.

This collection of poetry asks a kaleidoscope of questions: Who is my family? My father? How do I love a mother no longer here? Can I see myself? What does it mean to be Bangladeshi? What is a border? Innately hopeful and resolutely strong, Fariha’s voice turns to the optimism and beauty inherent in rebuilding the self, and in turn, the world that the self moves through. Ubiquitous to the human experience, Survival Takes a Wild Imagination is an illuminating breath of fresh air from a powerful poetic voice.

5 out of 5 fairies

This was such a beautiful collection of poetry, and spans a wide array of topics. I really enjoyed the flow of topics, and while many poetry collections are focused on one theme, the variety of this one works well. Róisín has a beautiful writing style, and the poems evoke so many emotions. It almost felt like we were getting an intimate peek into her soul, and that a piece of her was left on the page when creating this collection. The perfect read for poetry lovers who enjoy emotional reads.

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Fariha Róisín is a multidisciplinary artist, born in Ontario, Canada. She was raised in Sydney, Australia, and is based in Los Angeles, California. As a Muslim queer Bangladeshi, she is interested in the margins, liminality, otherness, and the mercurial nature of being. Her work has pioneered a refreshing and renewed conversation about wellness, contemporary Islam, and queer identities, and has appeared in the New York Times, Al Jazeera, The Guardian, Vice, Village Voice, and others.