Names Above Houses by Oliver de la Paz

In Names Above Houses by Oliver de la Paz, we are introduced to Fidelito, a Filipino boy and his family.  The book explores the experience of a Filipino family moving to San Francisco and the obstacles they must face.  It is told mostly in prose poems with magical realism.  The poems feel like fairy tales, intertwining animals, faith, myths, cultures and religions to show us the view point of a child and a difficult thing.  Fidelito is obsessed with flying, symbolized by wings on his back (real or imagined), airplanes, and his constant obsession with the sky. 

You can learn more about the poet here: https://www.oliverdelapaz.com/

buy it here: https://www.amazon.com/Names-Above-Houses-Orchard-Poetry/dp/0809323826

and read more here: http://www.fishousepoems.org/school-years/
and here: http://www.fishousepoems.org/fidelito-takes-flight-up-a-ladder/

Dangerous Goods by Sean Hill

Dangerous Goods by Sean Hill explores distances, migration (both of people and of animals and plants), and relationship through generally free verse poems. Through discussing location, ontology, and place, he writes too about memory. "my brother's twenty-five-year-old body startled me...I didn't recognize him since I hadn't watched/him the way I do the ground (always/a window seat, so I can see how far/we'll fall" (23).

Particularly instructive is how Sean Hill incorporates his research into his poems. Many poems are dedicated to, mention, or are based on historical figures. He also uses footnotes, which are oftentimes just as long, and as beautiful, as the poems themselves.

Brother to Dragons by Robert Penn Warren

Robert Penn Warren's Brother to Dragons: A Tale in Verse and Voices is a republishing of the original version from 26 years prior. This book, a singular, long-form poem, is concerned with the brutal murder of a slave by Thomas Jefferson's nephews, and the poems are formed through "dialogue spoken by [relevant] characters, but it is not a play." These characters, long dead, meet in 'no place' at 'any time', and their interactions forms the basis of the collection.

In crafting this piece, Warren and his historically-based characters aim to examine the murder and the situations both surrounding and resulting from it; and, in doing so, engage with themes of race, violence, innocence, and the blood that too often results from democracy.  The poem "brings not only reconciliation among the ghostly figures but healing for Warren’s persona as well."

The long-form narrative poem is broken up into Roman-numerically numbered sections. Much like a screenplay (with no stage movement) the text is entirely composed of character tags with dialogue.

After the poem, in a section entitled "Notes," Warren moves through his piece page-by-page and addresses changes from the first draft, historical context, and his own sources.

Buy the book here:
https://lsupress.org/books/detail/brother-to-dragons/
https://www.amazon.com/Brother-Dragons-Verse-Voices-South/dp/0807121231

Robert Penn Warren's website:
https://www.robertpennwarren.com/

Leadbelly by Tyehimba Jess

leadbelly written by Tyehimba Jess is a collection of poems inspired by the life and music of folk and blues artist Huddie William Ledbetter.  The book title is taken from Ledbetter's stage name.  Jess used historical documents, Leadbelly's recorded songs and lyrics, several biographies, and his own genius imagination to craft the poems found in his book.

Taken from Wikipedia: Huddie William Ledbetter (/ˈhjuːdi/; January 20, 1888 – December 6, 1949) better known as stage name Lead Belly was an American folk and blues singer, musician and songwriter notable for his strong vocals, virtuosity on the twelve-string guitar, and the folk standards he introduced.



The poem, for trouble's sake, is one of my favorite's because of it's grittiness and poetic charm. While I don't know if the character thought of himself in this way in real life, giving the life circumstances he had, I can empathize with him if he did.

Another favorite, because of the raw emotion behind it.  I'm thinking, it took much courage for a Black man to even think he could initiate a conversation with a White politician in such volatile times, let alone write to one.

The book contains a notes page, Leadbelly's life timeline, a reference page, as well as an acknowledgments page.

This book can be purchased on Amazon for $11.10
https://www.amazon.com/leadbelly-National-Poetry-Tyehimba-Jess/dp/0974635332/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=9780974635330&qid=1568395604&sr=8-1

Pelvis with Distance by Jessica Jacobs

Pelvis with Distance written by Jessica Jacobs contains a collection of biographical poems from the life of Georgia O'Keefe.  Jacobs drew inspiration to write this collection from multiple sources including letters written between O'Keefe and Alfred Stieglitz.

In the opening pages, Jacobs references her inspirations.

The book also contains an acknowledgments page, bibliography, and a notes page.

This book can be purchased on Amazon for $16
https://www.amazon.com/Pelvis-Distance-Jessica-Jacobs/dp/1935210661/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=9781935210665&qid=1568390900&sr=8-1

Greenhouses, Lighthouses by Tung-Hui Hu

The book Greenhouses, Lighthouses by Tung-Hui Hu houses a collection of lyrical poems written in first-person. 

Book description from Copper Canyon Press: "Weaving between the personal and cosmic I, Hu’s lyrics seek the “greenhouse” (a place of saturation, growth) as a poetic space to cultivate new modes through which our common language can once again illuminate and guide (lighthouse) existence and experience. The collection is full of longing for connection with others and something greater than our referential selves, while refusing to name or define what exactly is sought or how to reach it."

Hu's sense of connection, desire, and passion can be found throughout each poem, specifically the poem Windfall Apple, which is poetic eroticism at its best...at least that's how I read it.

Pictoral maps and a Notes page can be found within the book to help navigate readers as they journey through the book.

This book can be purchased on Amazon for $16

https://www.amazon.com/Greenhouses-Lighthouses-Lannan-Literary-Selections/dp/1556594062/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=9781556594069&qid=1568388494&sr=8-1

Shale Play by Julia Spicher Kasdorf and Steven Rubin

Shale Play by Julia Spicher Kasdorf and Steven Rubin is a collection of poems by Kasdorf accompanied by a collection of photographs by Rubin. These poems and photos capture the daily realities of people living small industrial and rural town across the Appalachians, and the implications of changing political and environmental shifts.

Both Kasdorf and Rubin vividly capture images of nature and industrial artifacts along with stories of everyday Americans doing their best to adapt to an everchanging world.

Where to buy:

https://www.psupress.org/books/titles/978-0-271-08093-2.html

https://www.amazon.com/Shale-Play-Photographs-Fracking-Keystone/dp/0271080930

About the author:

http://english.la.psu.edu/faculty-staff/jmk28

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/julia-kasdorf

https://poets.org/poet/julia-spicher-kasdorf

About the photographer:

https://www.stevenrubin.com/about/

Photographer website:

https://www.stevenrubin.com/