Dear Yusef

Anthology of new work honoring the legacy of a celebrated African American poet /> />This carefully and generously curated mosaic of essays, letters, and poems reveals the profound impact that poet Yusef Komunyakaa has had on poets, educators, and readers worldwide. The anthology brings together creative and critical offerings from fellow poets, former students, literary entities, and other admirers. There are emerging and established voices—from previously unpublished writers to Pulitzer Prize winning poets. Together these pieces honor one of the most influential writers of the last half century, one, it turns out, who is as beloved for his teaching as he is celebrated for his creative work. Contributors include Terrance Hayes, Sharon Olds, Carolyn Forché, Toi Derricotte, and Martín Espada, among others. Dear Yusef affirms Komunyakaa's transformative influence, showcasing how his mentoring has ignited creativity, nurtured passion, and fostered a sense of belonging among countless individuals. Through the artistry of these testimonials, we witness the transformative power of poetry and the enduring legacy of a true literary icon. /> />Sample Poem: /> />from "Reading Yusef," by Major Jackson /> />Over powdered beignets, />over a demitasse of chicory />near Royal, I came to grips I am the lonely sort />for I am ever seeking potions, />my head sideways, a book winged />in my hand, its words from the chitlin circuit, />fried dough going cold and congealing, />passing tourists drowned out, />a sullen look on my face. It is when I most />want to make love. /> />Dostoevsky was a way out of my confusion, />as was Baraka whom I gave my reverence freely. /> />Nothing I believed stayed, and thus, my melancholy />deepened though banjos and clarinets played />the streets through late afternoon rain, maybe />Black Bottom Stomp, eucalyptus and live oaks />aging against arpeggio-runs. /> />from "The Forty-Fourth Poem," by Jennifer Grotz />The first student in my correspondence course who completed the final lesson on Dien Cai Dau was, like many students in that course, incarcerated in the Indiana State Penitentiary. In his essay, he wrote that Dien Cai Dau was the first book of poems he'd ever read. He'd been so taken with the experience that he'd proceeded to read poems from it aloud to his fellow inmates, after which they'd exchanged stories about...