A truly freeing experience, Now You've Seen Me Naked", is a gift of self love. Enticing in both subject matter and expression, this book of poetry covers subjects including self reflection, relationships and love.
"Now You've Seen Me Naked, a collection of poetry and prose has been read by Nikki Giovanni, Edwidge Danticat and James Todd Smith, known to most as LL Cool J. "Now You've Seen Me Naked" has received acclaim from seasoned authors and lovers of poetry across the United States and abroad.
Poetically speaking to issues of womanhood, self esteem, relationships and spirituality, Renee` seeks to give voice in rhythms and words that are encoded for every heart to understand.
Excerpt
Excerpt from the poem, "A Pretty Face" from the book, "Now You've Seen Me Naked"...
Handle gently packed with care
In her mind she would declare
“On your stomach” they would say
Face to face turned them away
In the night they would come knocking
Daylight found a big girl stalking
Men that didn’t know her name
But they played the Fat girl game
No one else must ever know
Nor should feelings ever show
Fat girl love is in the closet
Exchanges left like a deposit
Grateful still for lust attention
Starving soul needs some affection
And when night chased day away
Fat girl games men start to play
There would be no tears detected
As she posed quite unaffected
Hopeful feelings they rejected
But Fat kept her soul protected
It’s a bitter jagged pill
To be treated as a thrill
Sorrows much to contemplate
Disguised by being overweight
In the mirror stood effaced
The heavy girl and pretty face
Professional Reviews
Nikki Giovanni
"It was an enlightening and emotionally exploring experience. Good Good luck with your career and your willingness to be a truth teller."
Onyx Magazine Book Review
"An enlightening and emotionally exploring experience", IS THE OPINION OF INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED POET,
NIKKI GIOVANNI OF THE REFRESHINGLY TRUTHFUL AND
TRANSPARENT POETIC WORDS OF LITERARY NEWCOMER,
RENEE’ CROOKS IN HER POETIC WORK ENTITLED, “NOW
YOU’VE SEEN ME NAKED”. NEW YORK BORN AND
FLORIDA RAISED, RENEE’ HAS CAPTURED THE ATTENTION
OF READERS AND POETS WITH HER HONEST DEPICTION OF
SELF LOVE AND RELATIONSHIPS.
Blending classic styles and contemporary rhythms,
Now You’ve Seen Me Naked challenges our ideas about
how we view ourselves particularly in the scope of love
and relationships. Referencing the title of her work, the
poet disrobes her very soul to give readers the opportunity
to peer into her own self reflection and analysis.
Now You’ve Seen Me Naked describes the joys and
failures of relationships expressing Eros and Agape love
incorporating both feminine and masculine viewpoints
both inviting and exacting. Divided into Chapters, Now
You’ve Seen Me Naked outlines the work with headings
entitled Burlesque, Pastiche and Farrago which in definition
alone lends to the description of a work that is as raw
as a strip tease and as playful and exaggerated as a satirical
variety show. As unpretentious as its author, Now
You’ve Seen Me Naked is the book for both experienced
readers and those newly introduced to poetry.
Expressing relatable feelings of vulnerability and desperation,
Ms. Crooks explores the human condition in
lines excerpted from her poem “Soliliquy”:
“Can you just bathe me
Wash me so I don’t feel dirty
Like I swam through muddy waters…”
Ms. Crooks examines the spirit with expressions like:
“For the children who ran from the neighborhood dogs
For the same children who still run
from the neighborhood
For my children who run till their
chests feel tight Breath…”
Excerpted from the poem, “Still Born Dreams.”
About her work and her purpose Renee’ explains, “I
live to write. I’ve always felt as though I needed to express
myself through poetry. It’s intimate it’s like reading
a hand-written letter from a loved one which is such a rare
treat in a world of forwarded emails and texts. I love the
intimacy and sincerity of writing, particularly poetry.”
Now You’ve Seen Me Naked can be purchased online
at www.ReneeCrooks.com. A true investment, it is
a book that will place a smile on your face, a tear in your
eye and add an inch to your soul.
Marc Lacy
“Ms. Crooks’ work illustrates her ability to incorporate elevated articulation within the stanzas and yet still display a "hipness" that could appease a cross-demographic that spans from hip-hoppers to English Professors.
Within the realm of poetry, it is very difficult to pen a piece that can actually draw interest from different focal groups. So with this, along with scribing wonderful poetry, she also created an engaging vibe for multiple backgrounds.”
Using Calgary as a backdrop the author satirizes the self-serving nature of the public as it continues to fatten itself, not only physically, but egotistically as well.
