[ reviews & testimonials ]

"Heartfelt, wild, and moving. Phoenix Tesni’s poetry rearranges intimacy and lineage into an ever-growing tapestry, with so much breath to offer."

Phoenix Tesni is honest. Not to a fault. It’s honesty that breathes authentic life into her work and others. Over the course of two years or so, I have gotten to know Tesni through the digital space. She has built a community of poets, auteurs, and writers that are not only talented, but also reflect literary art worth showcasing. It is through these mix of characters that she has maintained herself and her work.  

I first got to truly understand Tesni’s dedication and devotion to art through a meticulously put together digital magazine. She created a collection that curated the pens of dreamers, truth tellers, and humans devoted to their genuine vessels. Their real selves within poetry. People through pieces that weren’t just the aspirations they envisioned, but fully encompassed humans she could completely see through their pens. At first, I didn’t know if I could trust them with my work. A small, almost one-shot type of Zine. But time and time again, they showcased their legitimate claim in wanting people’s true selves in their art.

But, that wasn’t the first time I interacted with them…her dedication and heart. The first time I truly got to know her work was through a piece. It was a piece that I had never encountered before. Mutual peer editing. Poetry that bled with surrealism yet conjured through metaphorical porcelain we all have. Inspiration instantaneously hit my brain and it didn’t go away until I worked on it. And then, that idea sparked another. Through one piece, it gave me pieces. She did that. From the creation she bled, she birthed a river of ideas to another creative. That’s her.

Tesni believes in kindness, patience, and change. It’s not only shown in the work they decided to read and uplift, but the work they wrote themselves. They’re never been unintentional when responding to others. There’s tenderness when speaking but just as much passion. They stand firmly in their beliefs. It’s not only admirable but an example. Not just for me but for those who get to witness them first or second hand. The touch through their pen and words speak volumes. And that’s exactly what we want from our creators.

It’s with that, that I’m proud to have gotten to witness and continue to see the fiery rise of Phoenix Tesni.

on "an unrequited love letter to the city that murdered me"

[finalist for Best Small Fictions '23]

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In this lyrical, startling poem, the unnamed city thrums with a weary tenderness despite the undercurrent of violence threatening to flood in.

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Saturated in language, the poem teeters on the edge between blissful complacency and a vicious reality, the inherent contradictions of aging summarized by the mantra "i do not wish to know" / "i do not know."

It is at once elegant, vulnerable, and devastating.

“Phoenix Tesni is one of the most exciting new writers I’ve had the good fortune to read. Her work is curious, her subjects romantic, her images tangible and real, almost as though one could reach out and feel the warmth of “a campfire in [her] heart”.

You will find yourself drawn through the intricate web of her writing, line by careful line, as though sleepwalking through memories that feel all at once present and alert. To read Tesni’s work is to engage in what words are, how they feel on the tongue and to the senses. It has been my great pleasure to read many and publish a few of Phoenix’s poems.

Like many others, I’m sure, I’ll return time and again to her work and find myself in awe of the sensuous power in this poet’s language.”

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The most graceful poet I've ever come across—her work has always been like a little lamp in the dark. All by itself and yet enough to illuminate its surroundings. When I think of compassion, I think of her.

on "Water"

 interactive short-fiction game

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"This incredible interactive story by Phoenix Tesni is very meticulously constructed and it shows in every single frame. The way its narrative diverges adds another layer to the overall experience of reading through it which I think is really remarkable. It's a difficult feat to achieve that not every piece of this type is able to achieve. It is deeply moving. It reaches the cracks in the abyss of your heart and fills it in."

on "an unrequited love letter to the city that murdered me"

[finalist for Best Small Fictions '23]

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 "...I fell in love with how the poem felt like it was reinventing an older style and I loved the tension between each word and line. It's nostalgic and familiar, but not at the same time — and that's what I love about poetry. How it can take something we all know and reintroduce it to us in a new way.

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Phoenix is also masterful with sound and rhyme — each word and syllable feels though it has been chosen for a reason. That's another thing I love about poetry, how it can be so playful and clever with the language we all use.

Another great poem that shows Phoenix's cleverness and mastery of poetry (in sound, in playful wordplay, in tension, in word) is "my dentist told me he wanted to live inside one of my teeth" published with Surging Tide, which I think is a great next step from when I first read Phoenix's work." 

When reading Tesni’s poetry, you can’t help but be aware of her particularly acute perceptiveness.

Her poetry is visceral, perfectly paced, and never pulls its punches. She’s a poet with something real to say, something vital and alive, something crackling, and that’s a rare and delightful gift from someone at the beginning of what will undoubtably be a long career.

"Phee's writing is beautiful, elegant, crisp, intelligent, and most importantly, it's audacious. Her poems, articles and even rants are a rollercoaster ride of intense emotions—Joy, grief, heartbreak, yearning and hope all packed into a beautiful, elegantly packed envelope of words."

"Phoenix’s work has always stood out to me as tenderly mystical. Her piece in handpicked poetry, which sparked our introduction, held a unique sort of nostalgia that I see reflected in much of her writing.
 
Through interviewing her, I learned just how lovely of a person she is as well. She has a distinct care and wonder for the world around her that materializes in such a tangible way in her work. Every time I read a Phoenix Tesni piece, I know it's not just for me, but also food for my inner child. "

Phoenix Tensi writes with unflinching honesty and rare, compelling intelligence and insight.

Tensi crafts worlds vivid enough to slip into, writing deliberate and urgent, inspiring hope, empathy, and love in every cold corner of the universe.

Phoenix is a writer of undeniable talent and emotional depth that would be remarkable in anyone but is especially so in someone so young. Her work is often brief and intensely lyrical, turning mundane beauties and losses into something greater and more moving than their parts. In her poetry, she often goes beyond individual differences to touch upon the universal. Her prose, especially her blog posts, retain the same fluidity and rhythm of her poetry while taking on a personal, accessible tone that makes you connect with her immediately. When she writes about her own life and revelations, you feel as if they are your own.

"Phoenix Tesni writes with such raw authenticity that you can't help but get swept up in the emotions she shares so vulnerably from her life experiences. Every post of hers feels you're sharing a quiet, comforting moment with a friend, catching up over a cup of lemongrass tea. Her heartfelt and relatable take on things is what keeps you coming back for another cup every now and then.

10/10 would recommend subscribing to her newsletter if you want your heart broken and stitched back all again in the span of a single email."

"I met Phee for the first time back in a slam poetry event in 2017, and since I've known her — her writing has been grounded in a specific kind of curiosity and empathy I've come to associate with her. Her poetry, newsletter essays, and curation of art and media symbolize the joy of celebrating the mundane things in life, the little precious moments that keep us going, no matter how hard it gets.

Through teaching students from all walks of life, Phee has contributed to fostering a love for reading and writing among many. I'm very grateful that she continues to share her writing with us, and allows us a glimpse into her brilliant mind."