Praise and Poems

tenderhead. is a collection that “dances to the sounds of street”. The evocative pieces speak to current issues of racism and misogyny whilst painfully reminding us of the tenderness that poetry and love can have “poetry for me is rocking when you hug someone / is my mother’s hands”. With a debut collection like this, I’m sure that Jay will soon become a household name. Watch this space.

Afshan D’souza Lodhi (It’s Not About The Burqa, re: desire)

Jay Delise’s tenderhead.  is not for the faint of heart. In fact, to get through it without surrendering to anger or judgment (because this is not your story. Maybe it is…), you must continually suspend your beliefs or disbeliefs. Truth is, the opening poem, “I Should Probably Come Out To My Mother” serves as a clear warning that you are in for truth, and nothing but the truth.

from the Foreword by Dr Gretna Wilkinson, PhD, founder of The Raven’s Perch

From A Tribute to
Underground Jazz

“Back in the day, they…”
She’d say
And with a swing
Of her hips
Resurrect the
Tip-tap-grind
Mom and pop felt
As they procreated

And every time
The music got her way
She wailed high
Into the night sky:
Let’s get it on
Encouraging the birth
Of a new generation of
Grown Folks’ Business
They tell us: Don’t tell nobody