Book of Hours / Kevin Young.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Young, Kevin, 1970- author.

Standardized Title:

Poems. Selections (Book of Hours)

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Childbirth--Poetry.

Childbirth.

Bereavement--Poetry.

Bereavement.

African Americans--Poetry.

African Americans.

Genre:

Poetry.

American poetry.

Physical Description:

xii, 185 pages ; 24 cm

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 2014.

Summary:

A decade after the sudden and tragic loss of the poet's father, we witness the unfolding of grief. Capturing the strange silence of bereavement, Kevin Young acknowledges, even celebrates, life's passages, his loss transformed and tempered in a sequence about the birth of his son. Ending this book of both birth and grief, the gorgeous title sequence brings acceptance, asking "What good/are wishes if they aren't / used up?" while understanding "How to listen / to what's gone." Young's frank music speaks directly to the reader in these elemental poems, reminding us that the right words can both comfort us and enlarge our understanding of life's mysteries--From publisher description.

Contents:

Obsequies

(DOMESDAY BOOK). Elegy, father's day ; Bereavement ; Act now & save ; Effects ; Rue ; Bereavement fare ; Mercy ; Near miss ; Grief ; Solace ; Rosetta ; Charity ; Exit music ; Flag day ; Asylum

(THE BOOK OF FORGETTING). Hurry up & wait ; Wintering ; Snow in april ; Easter ; Dream the day after easter ; Spring training ; Pity ; Remains ; Codicil ; Memorial day ; Grief ; Father's day ; Elegy ; Harvest ; Anniversary

(CONFIRMATION). Miscarriage ; Expecting ; Starting to show ; Ultrasound ; First kick ; Linea nigra ; Montagne noire ; Gravida ; Quickening ; Lightening ; Nesting ; Labor day ; Breaking water ; Nativity ; Crowning ; Colostrum ; Jaundice ; Rooting ; Beasting ; Teething ; Teething ; Teething ; Teething ; Greening ; Thirst ; Blessings

(THE BOOK OF THE BODY). Pieta ; Truce ; Stigmata ; Limbo ; Ruth ; The book of the body ; Annunciation ; Annunciation ; Stillborn ; Arbor day ; City of god ; Memorial day ; Sight ; Miracle removal ; Sorrow ; Pilgrimage ; Lower haight ; Gravity ; The mission

(BOOK OF HOURS). The light here leaves you ; The burnt, blurred world ; Black like an eye ; Leaving the valley ; The sun's small fury ; You could spend ; Damn the dark ; The few fields ; How to listen ; The dark must live ; Winter's thunder ; Does the wind wonder ; My brother ; Bodies are built ; It's death there.

Notes:

Poems.

Black Caucus of the American Library Association Literary Awards - Best Poetry, Winner, 2015

ISBN:

9780307272249

0307272249

OCLC:

844789963