Break to Sing: Seven New Poetry Collections to Read in July
“Elegy, sing the bones to break the cycle. The cycle: Sing to Break. Break to Sing.” –Philip B. Williams’s Lift Every Voice * This month, we see poets collaborating and conversing beyond words on a page, from Victoria Chang’s hand-stitched
In July, seven new poetry collections emerge to captivate readers. Philip B. Williams’s "Lift Every Voice" highlights a cycle of breaking and singing, as evident in his brother's golden shovel poem and the robot libretto by Brenda Shaughnessy. Victoria Chang’s "Tree of Knowledge" explores the resilience of a tree, using historical photographs and cutting-edge poetic techniques.
James Weldon Johnson’s "Lift Every Voice and Sing" transitions into Philip B. Williams's gold-shovel poem, emphasizing the enduring nature of poetry. Franz Wright's final collection closes with the poignant line, "Let alone, let alone the lights of home my wanderings done." José Felipe Alvergue’s "en el norte/ soy del sur" delves into migration history through sonnet-essays that blur borders, anchoring the collection with color photographs.
Victoria Chang’s "Wolf Cut: New & Selected Poems" incorporates artists like Picasso, Renee Gladman, and Ai Wei Wei, blurring the line between poem and song while addressing themes of expulsion, menopause, and melancholy. Anna Journey’s "Wolf Cut: New & Selected Poems" masterfully weaves personal stories with California and Southern landscapes, revealing the complexities of familial relationships and self-harm.
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