I have been a fan of Josie Balka since I saw her reading her poetry in her closet on Instagram. First it was her voice first captured my undivided attention. It was warm and inviting and felt like a long, full body hug from your dearest friend. It made me feel accepted, comforted and loved.
Then her words captured my heart. That day she was reading about body image:
I can’t remember anyone I’ve ever seen in a public pool
With such a memorable body, good or bad
That I think about it ever again
I think it was this poem that really launched her into the public consciousness. Because it resonated with so many of us. I felt like she had seen inside my soul. I think that’s all we ever want, to be truly seen, and understood. Her poetry is like rocking on the front porch, glass of ice cold lemonade in your hand, the buzz of your neighbors lawn mower in your ear, and the scent of fresh cut grass in your nose.
I haven’t read poetry in a while. A close friend of mine said he didn’t like poetry. And I felt compelled to show him that he in fact does, he just hasn’t been reading the right stuff. Good poetry is able to capture the essence, nuance and universality of emotion with an economy of words. Each word is absolutely essential. Writing like this takes time, talent and discipline.
What elevates this poetry to the next level is the relatability of her topics. Whether it’s being self conscious of our bodies in a bathing suit, or heartbreak, or long distance friendship Josie writes about it all with a clear eye and sympathetic heart.
Each poem somehow speaks to my heart. I bet if you picked this up, it would speak to yours too.
Balka, Josie. I Hope You Remember: Poems on Loving, Longing, and Living. S&S/Simon Element, 2025.