but is a womanist and hip-hop ode to seeing and honoring the humanity of the one who persists on the journey to the other side of but. It is a personal account of abuse, love, femininity, and redemption.
Divided into four chapters and written by Tove, half of the husband and wife songwriter/producer recording artist duo Keys of Philadelphia, but explores the complexities of relationships, self-love, and womanhood. It is an insightful account of growth and healing in the midst of darkness.
It is a transcendent account of why roses bloom out of season, and why sunflowers are no longer good enough.
I hope you see
her anger as justice
and
her tears as a baptism
for those who are thirsty for liberation...
I hope you see
that she is love...
but see her
This book is a part of a multi-media release entitled but. The multimedia release includes a book, a song, and a music video with the same title but by Keys of Philadelphia. The music video was filmed and directed by Dana Rice.
"Rarely does a book of poems evoke as much emotion as this one did for us. Pieces like Better, Broken Heart, and No One Showed Up read like the soundtrack to our lives or those we know. Some poems are gut wrenching, while others are soothing, but each poem is beautifully soul-filled." (Marie Parfait - Founder, Book Therapy Book Club - Baltimore, MD)