Customer Reviews

The Moments, the Minutes, the Hours: The Poetry of Jill Scott

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3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Jill Scott is a singer and performer, though I have only rarely heard her music. Sonia Sanchez wrote a wonderful encomium for Scott, saying, "I know Jill Scott. She is pot liquor and cornbread. She is caviar and champagne. She is a blues song and a spirtual. She is Nina, Leontyne, Sarah, Aretha." Sanchez' poetry is one of the wonders of the 20th century so I decided to give her protégé a try. It wound up with me liking the book and I imagine many will too. Unlike Sanchez, her subject matter is not very variegated. It's all about love, love, and more love, and then there's some about feminism and black pride. She can compose infinite variations on these three topics, but after awhile you're like, "Oh, not another haiku about crazy love." However in a later section of the book Scott experiments with taking on different personae and these are much stronger. One poem takes the point of view of the adult looking back to days of childhood and realizing her mother loved her.

"She cries when she sees me/ holds me close when she knows I need me/ "Mommy" I say/ "Mommy" I say/ Smells so good/ Reminds me to go out and play/ makes me strawberry lemonade."

The sights and sounds of ordinary life are wistfully accounted for, almost as though she wasn't a star and just Jill from the block you might say. There's another poem that alludes to the pain of having lost a child, rather like Joni Mitchell's poignant "Little Green." And the best of all she speaks from the perspective of a roughened, overworked street prostitute with a broken soul whose age becomes the turning point of the poem's final, shocking lines. In her preface, Scott gives credit to her forebears, including Langston Hughes and Emily Dickinson. This poem "One of the Reasons" will remind readers of some of the soliloquy poems of Sapphire.

Let me start by saying I've not studied poetry in depth. I have read Maya Angelou and other things that are required in school and when I took my African American literature and philosophy classes in college. I've gone to spoken word events and I've watched Def Poetry. That said I'm not a true "student" of poetry and I only think about writing my own poetry (it never comes out on paper). I do however keep a journal and one of the main reasons I bought this book is because I'm going through a period in my life where I wanted to read something to uplift me and let me know that love and relationships and all that will all turn out okay (although there are times of sadness). I enjoyed this book and it actually helped me in the sense that it gave me some thoughts of things to explore as I wrote in my journal. I read in another poetry book that I bought at the same time that you shouldn't read the poems all at once because it is to be savored like fine chocolates and that poetry/words are the same so I didn't even attempt to read it all at once but what I've read so far is good (for me) and if you like Jill, are a black woman or appreciate poetry then I think this is a nice book to have. It probably makes a nice gift too.

I purchased this book of heartfelt poems at a recent Jill Scott concert. I started reading it the next day and found I was taking a ride on an express train to expressionisms! She's not only a talented singer and performer, but also a very gifted and talented writer ...and I am so very happy, she allowed me to step (albeit briefly) into her world of words and glimpse her poetic soul as she lays down layer upon layer of the (3) L's: Love, Life and Loss. She covers the long and short of them all! There is no fluff here...all emotions are accounted for and I promise, you will enjoy the journey just as I have!

Great job Ms. Scott...thanks for sharing a very big part of you, with a very small part of me! Your talent is remarkable!

If you love the music of Jill Scott for its beautifully personal and uplifting content, you'll simply devour these nearly 150 pages of her poems.

Jill has often said that she's kept written journals for years. As many of Jill's song lyrics read like poems to me (and I dearly love them), I was not surprised to find myself deeply engrossed in Jill's accounts of life and love in this compilation.

Jill's writings unapologetically hold love up and examine, admire and venerate it. Her poems also touch on issues of friendship and family.

I've known since I heard the first song from her very first album that Jill was not just another singer, but a poet who happens to possess and beautiful voice and undeniable music talent. Now she is not only an accomplished poet, but a published one. It speaks so highly of her talent and her very nature that the likes of Sonia Sanchez and Maya Angelou have recognized the power of her gift and her loving, intelligent spirit.

Never a big fan of audio books, I'm dying for the audio version of this collection!!!

this book of poetry offers a glimpse into jill scott's beautiful and soulful life. full of poetry about love, loss, life and even the beauty salon, it's a great springtime lounging read!

I bought this book probably hoping to read more poetry like what was shared in the spaces on her first album and her live album - knowing of course of Mrs. Scott's history as a spokenword artist. I was surprised to find alot of poetry spanning her entire history - works from when she was a young girl to current peices. people who say they found the work repetitive, I assume sat and read the book from to back, and in my personal opinion that is no way to read poetry books, especially when all the works are from one artist. Read specific pieces, things that draw you from the table of contents and be pulled by Mrs. Scott's ablility to paint with words. She has range and it is shown through the different sections of the book. She addresses life and it is not difficult to understand, not difficult to hold on to, not difficult to move with her poems - Much like her music. she is definately a poet and I pray she is not grouped into that lump of artists (t-boz, ashanti {I haven't read Alicia Keys work to say}) who release journal entries and unpracticed works because they can. Jill Scott's poetry asks to be read and I look forward to her next collection so I can do it again.

Jill Scott is EXCELLENT. THE BEST. She is a wonderful poet. Her poetry is lyrical, rhythmic, and beautiful--just like her music.

I first fell in love with Jill Scott as an artist when I heard her song, "Love", laden with DC's go-go rhythms from her first album "Who is Jill Scott?" I have to say I've fallen in love with her all over again with her debut book of poetry.

Poetry is alot things, but what is poetry if it's not honest? Mrs. Scott is as real as they come. Her spirit jumps from the pages and permeates the reader's most intimate places. And whether that place is gray and blue or yellow and sunny, you always end up smiling anyway. She is "beautifully human" and makes you feel safe being human right along with her.

I recommend this book to those of us who don't have it all figured out just yet. You're human. Let Jill's words hold you.

I recommend this book to those of us who believe we've figured it all out. You'll learn life has so many more lessons to teach and is so much more than we could ever confine in a box.

Life is in this lady from North Philly.

The reflections of her mind are beautiful. I KNEW as soon as I got word of the book it would be a must read to hold and keep. Therefore I recommend that you take the time to read and re-read the pages, there's something for everyone. As with the motion of water her words will move you.

i can only read a few at a time
because they're just too too good.
anyone that loves jill scott,
anyone that loves jill's lyrics,
ought to get this book.
i think its delicious