Ohio University Press, 2005 Paper: 978-0-9675424-1-6 | eISBN: 978-1-7352242-1-3
ABOUT THIS BOOK | AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY | TOC
ABOUT THIS BOOK
A powerful collection from Frank X Walker, winner of the 2005 Lannan Literary Fellowship for Poetry.
In 68 poems, Kentucky writer Frank X Walker expertly melds autobiography, political commentary, and literary allusions into a devastatingly beautiful journey through the real “Affrilachia”— a word Walker created to render visible the lives of the African-Americans who call the rural and Appalachian South home. Written with passion, clarity, and emotional honesty, the poems in Black Box illuminate profound experiences at the intersection of race, love, social justice, family, identity and place.
Published in 2005 by Old Cove Press
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY
Frank X Walker is a native of Danville, Kentucky, and associate professor of English at the University of Kentucky. He was appointed Kentucky Poet Laureate, 2013–2014 by Governor Steve Beshear. A founding member of the Affrilachian Poets, he created the word “Affrilachia” to help make visible the black experience in the Appalachian South. He is the author of five poetry collections: Affrilachia, Buffalo Dance: The Journey of York, Black Box: Poems, When Winter Come: The Ascension of York, and Isaac Murphy: I Dedicate This Ride.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Contents
Kentucky vs. Texas Western, 1966
Handmade
Canning Memories
View Finder
Kodak Moment
Photosynthesis
Family Reunion
Glutton
Sugar Babies
Twenty-First Sentry
Writes of Passage
Too Wise Men
Elves
Altitude Adjustment
Enough
Jesuit
Curiosity
Why We Keep Plants
Frontier Spirit
Creek Philosophy
Salt
Last Words
Earthmen
Lil’ League Shaman
Jumpman
Teed Off
Nosotros
Double Exposure
Rustlin’
We Real Crunk
Brer Fox
Cold Still
When I Can’t Find the Words
Walk With Me Bashō
Literary Patriarch
After Charlotte Left George Ella’s Party at Hindman
My Poems Been Runnin’ They Mouths Again
How to Bury a Dead Man
Write Like a Dog
The Dozens
Crooked Letter Crooked Letter Eye Humpback Humpback Eye
Ohio University Press, 2005 Paper: 978-0-9675424-1-6 eISBN: 978-1-7352242-1-3
A powerful collection from Frank X Walker, winner of the 2005 Lannan Literary Fellowship for Poetry.
In 68 poems, Kentucky writer Frank X Walker expertly melds autobiography, political commentary, and literary allusions into a devastatingly beautiful journey through the real “Affrilachia”— a word Walker created to render visible the lives of the African-Americans who call the rural and Appalachian South home. Written with passion, clarity, and emotional honesty, the poems in Black Box illuminate profound experiences at the intersection of race, love, social justice, family, identity and place.
Published in 2005 by Old Cove Press
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY
Frank X Walker is a native of Danville, Kentucky, and associate professor of English at the University of Kentucky. He was appointed Kentucky Poet Laureate, 2013–2014 by Governor Steve Beshear. A founding member of the Affrilachian Poets, he created the word “Affrilachia” to help make visible the black experience in the Appalachian South. He is the author of five poetry collections: Affrilachia, Buffalo Dance: The Journey of York, Black Box: Poems, When Winter Come: The Ascension of York, and Isaac Murphy: I Dedicate This Ride.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Contents
Kentucky vs. Texas Western, 1966
Handmade
Canning Memories
View Finder
Kodak Moment
Photosynthesis
Family Reunion
Glutton
Sugar Babies
Twenty-First Sentry
Writes of Passage
Too Wise Men
Elves
Altitude Adjustment
Enough
Jesuit
Curiosity
Why We Keep Plants
Frontier Spirit
Creek Philosophy
Salt
Last Words
Earthmen
Lil’ League Shaman
Jumpman
Teed Off
Nosotros
Double Exposure
Rustlin’
We Real Crunk
Brer Fox
Cold Still
When I Can’t Find the Words
Walk With Me Bashō
Literary Patriarch
After Charlotte Left George Ella’s Party at Hindman
My Poems Been Runnin’ They Mouths Again
How to Bury a Dead Man
Write Like a Dog
The Dozens
Crooked Letter Crooked Letter Eye Humpback Humpback Eye