THE SHAPE OF YOU

THE SHAPE OF YOU presses the notion of identity to the edge, leading them to question the intersection of where the Self ends and the Other begins. This carefully constructed poetic mosaic addresses the cycle of unlearning shame, the brutality of impulse, and the many sinuous, warped, amorphic, contoured, and concentric shapes culminating in the complicated beings that are You and Me. The collection confronts society's obsession with identity and spills the sense of self into acknowledgement of the influence of community on personal perception. The entire work is a play on the anaphora "the shape of you," using repetition as both a thousand small deaths as well as the gateway to understanding.

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REVIEWS

“Wholly original and lovely, gritty and resonant, The Shape of You masterfully contours the messiness of relationships. Each poem in this collection is a gift of tenderness and ferocity, sharply poignant and devastatingly honest.”

- Elizabeth Moore, Author of Liturgies for Hope: Sixty Prayers for the Highs, Lows, and Everything In Between

"Kristalyn's THE SHAPE OF YOU is a collection that takes shape & movement viscerally across each page in the throes of grief, trauma, & triumph of girlhood. The collection also provides insight of the shape of violence as well as the shape of healing."
- Maya Williams, Poet Laureate of Portland, Maine '21-'24

“THE SHAPE OF YOU is a long-lasting dose of freedom. These poems glow with the beauty of embracing the core of who we are…This collection is as charming as it is stirring, as radiant as it is real. Each title a movement, Kristalyn Gill can dance on the page.”
- Tania Bies, Author of View from the Moon

“Incredibly beautiful: confrontational, startling, wise, sparkling. Gill can turn a phrase on its head with such cleverness that one wonders how anyone could have missed the connection before. I cannot recommend this book enough!”
- Hannah Wernher

“Kristalyn is one of the most gifted communicators I’ve ever encountered. Every word she writes expresses relatable truths and encourages an honest reflection of self. Her vulnerability, clarity and authentic nature brings a level of creativity that captivates my soul!”
- Candace Brown, Artistic Director of Soul Project Dance Company

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Cover Design by Nathanael Myers.

THE SHAPE OF YOU

REVIEWS

“Wholly original and lovely, gritty and resonant, The Shape of You masterfully contours the messiness of relationships. Each poem in this collection is a gift of tenderness and ferocity, sharply poignant and devastatingly honest.”

"Kristalyn's THE SHAPE OF YOU is a collection that takes shape & movement viscerally across each page in the throes of grief, trauma, & triumph of girlhood. The collection also provides insight of the shape of violence as well as the shape of healing."

“THE SHAPE OF YOU is a long-lasting dose of freedom. These poems glow with the beauty of embracing the core of who we are…This collection is as charming as it is stirring, as radiant as it is real. Each title a movement, Kristalyn Gill can dance on the page.”

“Incredibly beautiful: confrontational, startling, wise, sparkling. Gill can turn a phrase on its head with such cleverness that one wonders how anyone could have missed the connection before. I cannot recommend this book enough!”

“Kristalyn is one of the most gifted communicators I’ve ever encountered. Every word she writes expresses relatable truths and encourages an honest reflection of self. Her vulnerability, clarity and authentic nature brings a level of creativity that captivates my soul!”