Testimonials
“I started reading Ruminations last night and two fat tears so heavy with feeling landed on each of my bare thighs with an audible thud.”
- Rose B.
“Bona! Your book...arrived! I got a little emotional reading the beautiful note you left for me in the front page - we truly have been on such a soul journey together. I’m glad we met when we did and have had such parallel experiences of growth. Your presence in my life has been a very stable omnipresent feeling of support and love.
I read every single page last night before finally falling asleep, it was worth staying up for. I felt sadness, I felt joy, I felt sexy. I laughed, such a wide array of emotions. It was so awesome getting to have that insight into your mind and learn more about what makes Bona, Bona.”
- Kathleen H.
“I read it and I giggled. I almost cried and I said Periodt many a times post-poem...”
- Aniway A.
“The scenes you paint are so precious. I love the way you capture the bitter sweetness of mundanity, making me aware of how detached I actually am with things recently. The dissociating be real - probably why [I] be feelin’ melancholic all the time. I’m really loving it at the moment. It’s been a great reminder to actually process and reflect on things properly.
Also makes me want to write more.
Anyway, proud of you and can’t wait to see where you’ll go with it all.”
- Lé A.
“...working through it bit by bit. I finished it today and really enjoyed it - I’ve given it to [a friend] to read, hope that’s alright. The lady I’m seeing really enjoyed it also.”
- Jack M.
“It arrived in all its beauty. I was going to wait to digest it all but had to have a taste. It’s wonderful so far and I can’t wait for the rest.”
- Grace R.
“Despite the ADHD I did read it! I actually felt [it was] easy to read because it was poetry and such a small book. Also I really love reading anyways, but yes, read!”
- Ella L.
“Angel!!! Ruminations is so perfect. I started crying when I saw your message on the first page. What a beautiful being you are. I’m so excited to read it, everything about it is so gorgeous!! The colours, the font, the illustrations!!! You’ve outdone yourself, truly.”
- Montana R.
“Within the past few weeks, I’ve returned to Ruminations (2024) by Bona Obiri-Yeboah over and over again. Every time I unsheathed the book’s lavender garter, I found myself pulled into a naked vulnerability that Bona reserved for friends and lovers. They talk about their experiences with cities, family, identity and class struggle across 24 poems. His words make the intangible and inanimate, corporeal. He transmutes cities into the lips of a lover. Sweet...in how its kiss can revitalise a heart’s lost rhythm. Sour...in how its ruthless words wake you up in unforgiving realities.
I had the privilege of participating in Bona’s live reading of Ruminations at Array Store on January 30th. Bona’s soft-spoken nature did not compromise the powerful emotion each word brought. I felt we were in his mind, with him, trying to make to sense of what he ruminates about. I felt as though I was a distant, but present witness in Ravenswood when his tooth fell out in the regional town his family moved to. I could feel the steamy touches Bona felt in Drenched and Voluminous as he kissed his lover in the shower. Each word, each phrase was visceral, painful and real.
Ruminations comforted me as a 20-something first gen immigrant trying to make sense of the world. I could not tell you how many times I’ve performed an internal monologue of my own Ruminations alongside city sidewalksand bus windows. Despite that, it feels a little less lonely knowing someone else is walking these streets thinking about the same thing.”
- Cris B.
“I think Ruminations is extremely beautiful. I really love it. I really love the balance of steadfastness and horniness and tenderness and staunchness. I just love the way that you notice the world around you. I think it makes you an amazing artist; what makes an amazing artist is just being able to be present, drink in the world and metabolise that into something so fucking...like!
I read it today while I was getting my iron infusion. I was sitting. I had a drip in my arm - ferritin, flowing into my veins to power me the fuck up and I was reading your poetry and thinking about what a beautiful person you are.”
- Isa T.
“TBH pookie, I’m tryna fuck more guys in the shower frrrrrr...and making out during Black Swan is lowkey crazy 2 me, but I respect the hustle.”
- Solomon E-M.
“I read your book last night Bona. Timeless poetry. You are masterful. Your acknowledgement [of Country] is one of the most thoughtful and valuable acknowledgements I have ever read.
Me and Gladys read it together. Just...in silence, it was something else. You should be so proud of yourself, your work, your dedication and art. I think it is well said - ‘Ruminations is part of our key to freedom and forgiving our[selves].’
It’s a powerful work, it makes the reader ask many questions about our experience of life, the world and different cultures. It reveals these potent questions and truths, while carrying [a] deep sense of understanding, solidarity and futurism towards a better future, where we understand our differences and let them bind us and bring us closer.”
- William F.
“Bona!!!!! It’s Jashka. I’ve been meaning (and meaning, and meaning to text you since before you even left - after I first read (and re-read, and re-read) your poems in Ruminations. Semi-sexual really resonated with me. I loved the way throughout your poems the rhythms of the body made love to the natural world.
For some reason...that feeling you relayed (or maybe which I interpreted), is one of the ways which makes me feel most alive. All your poems were very beautiful and raw.
I don’t have service where I live, so every time I look at your book - which has been on my bedside table for months, I think to message you, but it leaves my mind when I leave my place. Today I finally took your book with me when I left so I could message you :)
Big love <3 !”
- Jashka T.
“...after reading your book today I can totally see [teaching English] for you. A lot of uni students would be lucky to be taught by you. You’ve always been a good writer (using all the big words), it makes sense that your intuition is guiding you there. I’m excited to see where that journey takes you.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Very raw, real, honest and funny - (I actually laughed out loud at the specsavers one). I hope you have a successful book tour.”
- Ramona W.
“Hi beautiful Bona,
I’ve just finished reading your book and I just wanted to thank you for your words, your art - thank you for persevering and being here. There [were] so many poems that I could understand on a deep level...it hurt, but in a beautiful way. I don’t think us meeting was an accident, and I’m glad our paths crossed the way [they] did.
I literally feel so inspired.
Thank you thank you thank you xx.”
- Rachel G.
“Nothing but beautiful thoughts. Reading it from an African, queer [point of view] is hitting different...our experiences may not be the same, but a few pages I’ve read feel like a hug and also absolutely love the glossary. To put it simply, my thoughts are I truly appreciate Ruminations <3”
- Sekai M.
“Your work is incredible Bona. Seriously...like, I am so beyond proud of you. It’s exactly what you were saying - [about] going to Mackay and stuff. They often times are missed on tours and I feel like that would have been super-duper special for them and you.
I’m so proud of you for selling so many as well. I’ve been trying to get your book as gifts for friends for their birthdays. Everytime I go into Array [Store], they’re sold out. Which is so valid. I was able to snap one off them for a friend...but yeah it’s my go-to birthday present at the moment for people.
Because...I love your work so much and I believe in it. I’m so excited about it all the time. I’m so proud of you Bona, this is massive!”
- Pippa M.
“Hello, good morning.
I just read two poems on my way to work. I read Ravenswood and Sucrose. To me, [Ravenswood] is not only you remembering your childhood memory, but you are childhood Bona - writing the poem. It’s almost like a poem that’s a photograph...or maybe more like a short video. There is an element of animation. The heatwaves...coming off the roads. Sucrose...I really loved Sucrose so much. These are the types of poems that I love!!! A little bit of yearning, a bit of yin and yang - taking the good and the bad.
I love when your poems have a little bit of honest crassness. I loved the line about cumming in your own mouth. Then, the line about not needing salvation...the double entendre...saliva/salvation. Sucrose has made me be like, ugh, yes I need this right now. It’s beautiful. Obviously, there’s sadness there...but the sadness is beautiful as well. The addiction to falling and then getting addicted to the pain. The sour kick. Then you hit the ground after falling!
I’m also a sucker for concepts of life and death. Acknowledging that life contains many deaths even within yourself. You will experience multiple deaths before the end of your life. I always seem to be drawn to that concept. So I really like this idea of romantic life... going through reincarnations and being stuck in a cycle of life and death - within romantic life. Almost a sense of progression in this life and death cycle. A sense of progression in which one day you think you will escape the life and death cycle.
I [also] really love the little letter you’ve written to me in the front...so special. It says the book is for Ernestina. Who is Ernestina?
...I think this is perfect for me. I feel motivated to read now, which is something I wasn’t feeling before. I feel really motivated to read, but also to think about what I’m reading.
I hope you’re well. Thank you for writing beautiful poetry.”
- Nathan I.
“Hello Bona,
How are you? It was lovely to meet you up in Mackay.
I didn’t see you you at the [Libris Awards] opening but I didn’t really stay long - too many people for me.
Anyway, I am very much enjoying your poetry and congratulate you on the chapbook.
[A] poet’s life is not an easy one but well worth it in the long run when other things seem empty.
You mentioned that you will have [a] launch in Sydney sometime and if I am able, I would love to come down and maybe bring a friend or two.
[In the] meantime, I hope the trip to Mack was worth it for you and that you are able to keep making inspiring poems.
Best Ragards,”
- Faye W.
checkout Faye’s website -> www.fayewilson.com