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February 15, 2023
Jesica Fields' Playlist for Her Poetry Collection "When a Grasshopper Whispers"
In the Book Notes series, authors create and discuss a music playlist that relates in some way to their recently published book.
Previous contributors include Jesmyn Ward, Lauren Groff, Bret Easton Ellis, Celeste Ng, T.C. Boyle, Dana Spiotta, Amy Bloom, Aimee Bender, Roxane Gay, and many others.
Jesica Fields' collection When a Grasshopper Whispers is filled with poems of trauma and survival.
In her own words, here is Jesica Fields' Book Notes music playlist for her poetry collection When a Grasshopper Whispers:
Kelly Clarkson | Because of You
The collection begins with poems about childhood. The limiting beliefs that are set upon us from a very young age and how we learned to cope with them. Sometimes our coping skills create patterns of negative behaviors. Waking Up describes this feeling of realization that our toxic environments can be literal hell on Earth. Kelly Clarkson’s song "Because of You" touches on childhood emotional neglect and the traumas attached to self-love, security, and trust.
Billy Gilman | One Voice
The overall theme of When a Grasshopper Whispers is to allow the reader to see even the smallest voices can make a big impact. I am very soft-spoken, but through writing, I have this powerful tool that allows me to connect with others and make a change in the world. "One Voice" has been a favorite song of mine since childhood. I’ve always felt like I was on this hero’s journey to find my own voice and make an impact in the world.
Zoe Weiss | Control
Throughout the book, I address several mental health issues like anxiety and depression. The reader goes on a rollercoaster of mixed emotions as I face an internal battle with mental health. "Neurotypical Nightmares" is one of my favorite poems in the collection. It really embodies this song because I describe how if left untreated depression can take over and we lose control of our lives.
Jimmy Eats World | The Middle
Suicidal thoughts are very prevalent in this collection. I address hopelessness like a ledge I’m clinging onto. "Shel Silverstein was right about the Sidewalk," a poem that brings the whimsy of childhood into real adult feelings of separation from self. It questions and challenges everything we’ve come to believe about a life well lived. I chose the song "The Middle" because it has saved me from myself more times than I’d like to admit. Its upbeat tempo and positive affirmations about holding on have always lifted my spirit. I always tell myself: “These feelings are not forever, it’s just for now.” And I think that’s important for all of us to remember, that we’re more than our thoughts.
Selena Gomez | Lose you to Love me
I think the act of letting go is the most enlightening and painful thing we can experience in life. "I am Worthy" is my letting go poem. In this piece, I address all the physical aspects of life that I had to release in order to find my authentic self. This song is an anthem of self-love and learning the important life lessons that shape who we are.
Marshmello | Happier
There comes a point in this healing journey where our old self looks at the newly evolved self and realizes that the ego must die in order to reach a happier and more peaceful place. Tower Moments is one of my more metaphorical poems. I tell a story of a lighthouse (the physical body) and the light it shines (the spirit) and how we must keep our spirit intact even as our world is crumbling around us. "Happier" is a song that takes a similar journey. I interpret it as our past selves telling our present selves that in order to be happy we must forget about the past and live in the present.
The Score | Victorious
This is my daily pump-up song. I love turning it on full blast each morning to remind myself that I can overcome all challenges in life. A Bitter Sour talks about this very concept of having all odds against you, but choosing to rise anyway. “Watch the way I soar with uncertainty, plummeting in a spiral to quickly catch myself and rise higher. Far from majestic, but a fighter.” This underlying theme of hope is what I love most about my collection. I’m honest about my experiences, but I never leave the reader without a glimmer of hope, resolution, or self-reflection.
Alan Walker | Faded
Alan Walker is one of my favorite music composers. I love the esoteric sound and deep-rooted meanings behind his songs. "Faded" talks about being lost in the physical world and searching for something spiritual to grab onto. Homesick is one of my more ethereal poems. It talks about my desire to “go home” to myself. To shed all aspects of the physical world and just float as energy in the ether. I predict my future collections will take a deeper dive into this similar theme; as I’m always questioning and searching for the true meaning of life.
Eminem | Not Afraid
No song list would be complete without the lyricism of Eminem (in my humble opinion). "Not Afraid" tells a story of Marshall Mather’s rise out of the darkness and into the light. He takes on a personification and responsibility to guide the collective out of pain and suffering. I look at my poetry book in a similar light. I share everything I’ve learned so far about life, love, and pain in order to transcend into my highest self, in hopes someone will learn from my experiences and apply the lessons to their own lives. I think the key to this is not having fear of speaking out about the things that have wounded us the most.
P.O.D | Alive
This song takes me right back to middle school when studded belts and black fishnet gloves were a thing. But don’t let the heavy metal fool you, this song is all about having faith and being true to yourself. "I Contact" is the first poem in the book that gives a nod to the importance of spirituality in humanity. I think it’s less about what an individual believes and more about knowing the spiritual truths that connect each one of us. I like to take concepts from all religions that best resonate with my vibration and create an alchemy of love that I put forth through my writing.
Danny Gokey | Masterpiece
I find this song to be incredibly beautiful and it brings me peace of mind each time I listen. It’s the knowing that some force within us is working to change our reality. I talk about darkness a lot in this book. Something I’ve had to learn along the way is that the darkness is the very thing that shapes us. Just like waves in the ocean, we need the ups and downs in life to keep everything in balance. "Gratitude in Turmoil" talks about this very concept. How we can use our setbacks as a moment to learn where we need to pivot in life. And honoring the hardships as much as we celebrate the success.
Enigma | Return to Innocence
As the collection comes to a close I like to interpret the final poems as a figurative re-birth. I laid out all the foundations of my life’s trauma. All the things that at one point in time broke my emotional spirit. Having written them, those things no longer belong to me. I’ve now released them to the world without fear or judgment of myself. I’m free to continue on to my next chapter as my authentic self without the weight of past trauma.
Jesica Fields, also known as The Soft-Spoken Poet, is a poet from central Texas. Her priority with writing is to provide an emotional alchemy through a combination of storytelling, poetry, and multimedia art.
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