Allegiance : poems / by Francine J. Harris.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Harris, Francine J.

Series:

Made in Michigan writers series.

Made in Michigan writers series

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

American poetry--20th century.

American poetry.

Harris, Francine J.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (130 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Detroit : Wayne State University Press, c2012.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

A sharp, haunting, and lyrical collection that attempts to understand what we owe the spaces we inhabit. The full-length debut from francine j. harris, allegiance is about Detroit, sort of. Although many of the poems are inspired by and dwell in the spaces of the city, this collection does not revel in any of the cliché cultural tropes normally associated with Detroit. Instead, these poems artfully explore life in a city where order coexists with chaos and much is lost in social and physical breakdown. Narrative poems on the hazards, betrayals, and annoyances of city life mix with impressionistic poems that evoke the natural world, as harris grapples with issues of beauty and horror, loyalty and individuality, and memory and loss on Detroit's complicated canvas. In twelve sections, harris introduces readers to loungers and bystanders, prisoners' wives, poets pictured on book jackets, Caravaggio's Jesus, and city priests. She leads readers past the lone house on the block that cannot be walked down, through layers of discarded objects in the high school yard, and into various classrooms, bars, and living rooms. Shorter poems highlight the persistence of nature-in water, weeds, orchids, begonias, insects, pigeons, and pheasants. Some poems convey a sense of the underbelly, desire, and disgust while others treat issues of religion, both in institutional settings and personal prayers. In her honest but unsentimental voice, harris layers personal history and rich details to explore how our surroundings shape our selves and what allegiance we owe them when they have turned almost everything to ashes. Throughout allegiance, harris presents herself as an extraordinarily perceptive poet with a compelling and original voice. Poetry lovers will appreciate this exciting debut collection.

Contents:

Cover

Series Page

Title Page

Copyright

Dedication

Contents

jumping in

sift

costume jewelry

i live in detroit

when it's time to move

what you'd find buried in the dirt undercharles f. kettering sr. high school

footing, off guard

flashes-cyan / magenta / yellow

build us a jesus

would like to first thank god

another finger for the wound

the splashing of the bush

lost pen

confessional poetry

somewhere outside acme, i believe in castles.

choosing poets, out of town, like choosing a date

there is always someone. that's the problem.

why i haven't written

i used to write

wear metal

intention

(i belong to that voice. it owns what i breathe.)

fume

you, old meany

three feet of personal space

one's nature

to the man on the bus

you can't remove the city

crooked teeth

senses

what teeth poems ain't

documents

never had to use a gun

neighbor

from the bottom

the road to jackson has orchids

rub against it, where

sit with you all night

midday nap

feeder

until it comes

something in the water

parturient

they seem to gather in one park

between old trees

addicted to addict

dickhole and denise

message from wolfgang my mother left on the refrigerator

not now

eight days until your ashes turn one

roommates

in case there's trouble

blues for a mania

red is the mess

katherine with the lazy eye. short. and not a good poet.

i swear

allegiance

Acknowledgments.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

ISBN:

9780814336199

0814336191

OCLC:

778704198