Choke

In this bold follow-up to her celebrated debut collection, Ecologia, Sophia Anfinn Tonnessen pushes her once prayerful voice into a full-throated war cry. Choke offers a daring fusion of experimental poetry and a fictional scientific study, creating a disorienting and mesmerizing exploration of identity, desire, and the relentless scrutiny faced by trans people. Tonnessen's verse pulses with raw emotion and linguistic innovation, defying conventional approaches to evoke a visceral, bodily response. Her poems — flowing water and shattering glass, alike — create a kaleidoscopic lens, through which she examines body, memory, and transformation with unflinching honesty and disarming tenderness. Interspersed throughout are clinical "research reports" — Tonnessen's own biting satire of objectification and medicalization. These fictional documents serve as a stark counterpoint to the deeply personal poetry, highlighting the disconnect between private experiences and public observations. Choke is more than a collection of poems; it offers an immersive journey into the complexities of existing in a world that is simultaneously fascinated by and hostile to trans bodies and experiences. Tonnessen's unmistakable voice, honed in Ecologia and now refined to a razor's edge, cements her place as one of the most vital and innovative poets of her generation. Prepare to be challenged, moved, and utterly transformed by this groundbreaking work that defies easy categorization and demands the readerly courage to be experienced.