By: Ava Gladdin, Poetry Reviewer
Lana Del Rey, America’s coquette queen, released her first-ever poetry collection in 2020. This anthology, titled Violets Bent Backwards Over the Grass, has been among the most interesting of her collections released. With thirty original poems both written and put to music, this is Del Rey’s most creative juncture yet.
Violets Bent Backwards Over the Grass was first released as a 39-minute audiobook in July 2020. This audiobook was accompanied by a musical track produced by Jack Antonoff. With a musical accompanist in Antonoff, Violets Bent Backwards was nominated for a Grammy for the 2021 season. Though it did not win, it did gain the recognition it deserved. This piece, while incredible on its own, is only further elevated when put in a musical format. The way that her voice carries an intentional tone makes the delivery perfect. Later, in September, it was released in hardcover format. In terms of structure, Violets Bent Backwards is a mishmash of traditional styles and free verse. This invokes a feeling of comfort and casualty for the reader. One possible critique of the collection is that it feels like a journal entry. Personally, I enjoy this style as opposed to something more rigid.
Lana Del Rey is an excellent songwriter and poet. Each chapter of her written anthology paints a beautiful, vivid scene. The book itself, like her songs, feels cinematic. The mixture of photographs included in the book gives it a scrapbook feel.
What sets apart Del Rey’s collection from others is her experience writing music. In her album Norman F*cking Rockwell, she has many songs that tie into this collection including “Mariner’s Apartment Complex”, “Love Song” and “Venice B*tch”. The themes are very similar. They feature heavy motifs of Americana, longing, and emotional vulnerability. It feels like a stripped-down, rawer version of the album.
Her poem “LA Who Am I to Love You” pays homage to the city that has inspired much of her music. Lana Del Rey writes about her insistence on belonging to LA and her reminiscence of the city. It is significant because it is a major part of her vibe as an artist. This is seen by her emphasis on the city, repeating its name over and over. Del Rey writes about a tragic and nostalgic reminiscence of her life in LA in this poem, citing:
LA, I’m a dreamer, but I’m from nowhere, who am I to dream?
LA, I’m upset, I have complaints, listen to meThey say I came from money and I didn’t
And I didn’t even have real love, and it’s unfair
LA, I sold my life rights for a big check and I’m upset (9-13)
LA, I picked San Francisco because the man who doesn’t love me lives there
LA, I’m pathetic, but so are you, can I come home now?
Daughter to no one, table for one
Party of thousands of people I don’t know at Delilah where my ex-husband works
I’m sick of this, but can I come home now?
Mother to no one, private jet for one (16-22)
“Bare Feet on Linoleum” is personally my favorite in the collection. Del Rey does an incredible job writing this poem. It is a reflection of adulthood and change. It hits on subjects of isolation and the desire to belong somewhere. This is made obvious in the opening line where she refers to Sylvia Plath, a poet mostly known for her sad and lonely writing. It reads lyrically, drawing the reader in. It is difficult to not feel Del Rey’s fleeting moments of melancholy when reading:
Tiny drops of perspiration dot my forehead
Could be mistaken for dew drops if this were photo seasonBut alas this is a real life, and it’s been a real fight just to
Stop my mind from committing treason (12-15)
Overall, these two poems really encapsulate what Del Rey’s collection is like. They fully incorporate the themes of longing, nostalgia, and melancholy and round off the anthology.
In conclusion, Lana Del Rey is an excellent songwriter and poet. This is made obvious through her tone, choice of words, and the themes present in her work. Violets Bent Backwards Over the Grass is truly a window into the mind of Lana Del Rey. For people who have a deep sense of longing and nostalgia, this one is for you.