From the author of The Chaos of Longing comes a powerful second collection in which Robinson uses the metaphor of water to tell a story about achieving wholeness through letting go.

Organized in three sections, Submerge explores immersion in and release from trauma, mental illness, and loss. Part one, “Immerse,” reflects on birth and beginnings while exploring themes of love, self-discovery, and cultural history. Part two, “Drown,” examines mental illness, trauma, and loss. Part three, “Emerge,” takes lessons from water and begins a journey toward healing through self-care and gratitude. Throughout the collection, Robinson’s disarming candor, vivid imagery, and supportive message inspire and empower.

About The Author

K.Y. Robinson

K.Y. Robinson is an introverted writer based in Houston, Texas. She received a B.A. in journalism and M.A. in history from Texas Southern University. She has loved words pressed against pages since childhood, and has been chasing them ever since. The Chaos of Longing is her first published poetry collection.

Robinson draws from personal experiences as a woman of color, trauma and mental illness survivor, and hopeless romantic.

Product Details

Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing (October 8, 2019)
Length: 160 pages
ISBN13: 9781524850654

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Raves and Reviews

“A powerful sophomore collection from a phenomenal poetess everyone and their mother should be reading.” (Amanda Lovelace, Poet)

"Submerge is a book about sex, God and mania. It is a book about hurricanes, metaphorically and literally. It is a book about going into the water and trying to find something that means something, of trying, again and again, to get clean. It is a collection of the thin slices of life that make K.Y. Robinson the vastly underestimated writer that she is." (Iain S. Thomas, Poet)

“K.Y. Robinson returns with raw force in Submerge, the follow-up to her debut poetry collection, The Chaos of Longing. Robinson’s mastery of the metaphor is on full display in Submerge as her words not only manage to sit heavy in your chest like water-logged lungs as she tackles complex topics such as loss and mental illness, but are also able to reassure you like a gentle tide lapping at your ankles on the shores of healing.” (Cyrus Parker, Poet)

"Robinson brilliantly plays devil's advocate in this stunning, cohesive poetry collection. Love can heal, but it can hurt. Water can replenish you, but it can drown. A second poetry collection doesn't have to feel like a sequel; it can be a brand new start." (Alicia Cook, Poet)

“To read K.Y. Robinson is to love her. Robinson writes about tender topics such as mental health, longing, heartbreak, and self-love through the lens of a Black woman. There aren’t many of our stories being told, which makes Submerge even more crucial. She is kind, open, and hopeful. We need more writers like her.”
(Katherine D. Morgan, author of No Self-Respecting Woman)

"[One of] the 7 best romantic poetry books to add to your reading list" (Hypebae)