The Stakes

"Kristin Garth's new collection, The Stakes, is a force to be reckoned with: a brilliant fusion of personal history, a poetry of witness, and popular culture combine to tell the reader that fire, so long used (and still used) to punish and destroy women, can be taken back to fight against something, misogyny, that, as Garth writes, "has no nationality." Garth's words are necessary and enraged. Dare to read them." -Sarah Nichols, author of Hexenhaus "The Stakes" is more than a powerful collection of personal poems. It's also a shocking exploration into how women have been abused by fire and beyond throughout human history. It's eye-opening, enraging, and beautifully written." -Gina Tron, author of Employment "In these incandescent, powerfully crafted poems, Kristin Garth skillfully weaves together strands from personal and political history to show that, for women and others who are seen as "other," the "stakes" for mere existence are dangerous -- and often deadly so. Through historical record, contemporary example, and personal narrative, these poems give voice to the voiceless, burning with the truths they were not allowed to speak. But there is hope here, too: even in the ashes, embers survive, and through speaking truth against injustice, these poems are the kind of spark that can inspire necessary change." -Emma Bolden, author of "House Is An Enigma" and other books. "My obsession with the subject of death by fire, and specifically female death by fire, began with my own abuse by a firefighter, I quickly learned how privileged I was in comparison to the women I read about. Though I had nightmares of being burned regularly, I never was. The women I read about - like Joan of Arc, the women accused of witchcraft or lesser crimes that resulted in a stake, they suffered my nightmares as reality. Reading their stories made me humbled and angry for my gender, clearly disproportionately punished with fire and threats of fire." -Kristin Garth, author Kristin Garth is a Pushcart, Rhysling nominated sonneteer and a Best of the Net 2020 finalist. Her sonnets have stalked journals like Glass, Yes, Five:2:One, Luna Luna and more. She is the author of 23 books of poetry including Candy Cigarette Womanchild Noir (Hedgehog Poetry Press) and Atheist Barbie (Maverick Duck Press). She is the founder of Pink Plastic House a tiny journal and co-founder of Performance Anxiety, an online poetry reading series. Follow her on Twitter: (@lolaandjolie) and her website kristingarth.com