Rita Dove Books

Terri Erickson has managed to weave, then wrap the reader in a percale of purest poetry. And like the finer fabrics, she has woven a breathable art... each square inch of highest content, which touches the reader like a slight whisper... brushing the ear and turning the head. The longer "Thread Count" is held, the closer it is held... smooth, touchable, fragile. Sheets of every color, emotional hue, pastels and earthy tones... continental and worldy. Everything about Ms. Erickson's work is balanced... but leaves you spinning. The cover captivates. The body fits the hand and lap. But don't think it's "light" reading. The content... at times weighted, lands in your heart like a brick through your living room window... a brick she has covered in silk. A read that transports you back in time and space, exiting the now. She has thrown a percale sheet out her window, knotted, making a rope to link you with her world. An absolute must!

Terri Kirby Erickson's first book is rich in metaphors and diverse in subject matter. Her love of language and poetry is evident in each of her spirited and original poems. The poem "Luncheon in Paris" was my favorite and well worth the price of the book. The book is beautiful both inside and out. The cover art is spectacular.

"Thread Count" by Terri Kirby Erickson, is a finely tuned energy force that transcends us to another world. Feel the true flight of poetry, as you are taken over by the imagery invoked in the mastery of her linguistics. Terri's, "Thread Count", has touched many heart's by more than just magical words.
I will always cherish my copy.
I recommend buying more than one to share with family members and friends. If you don't you may be looking for your copy!
TKE, Thank you Repique

Reading Thread Count was a magnificent experience. I found myself drifting back to my childhood and musing over times I myself experienced the same feelings but lacked the wherewithal to give those experiences poetic expressions such as Terri Erickson has done. Thread Count evokes feelings ranging from exhilaration to profound understanding of loss whether it be loss of a person we are close to or simply loss of ones own health status. Other poems in the book have the ability to propel you into a totally different world in another country. I often found myself with misty eyes and at other times laughed out loud at the vivid imagery reading this poetry brought to mind. I would highly recommend reading this book and gifting it to those you care about.

I have been able to laugh/cry and identify with Terri in this collection of her poetry. It transcends both culture and time in common experiences that are often unpsoken, but have remained strong inside us all. I look forward to her next work, in the meantime it is a book i will return to, time and again. I have my favourite poems, and urge you to find yours. Excellent!!

This book is a great guide for single mothers and all mothers to form meaningful and bonding relationships with their children.

This book has enabled me to believe again in the power of love and motherhood. I gave this book to my sister (a wonderful, new single mom), after reading it. She was inspired just as I was by the strength and courage of this author. And, you don't have to be a single mom to get something from this book. Moms, dads and even those without children can all benefit from this inspiring piece of work!

Rita Knight puts her heart and soul into this powerful little book. She let's every single mom know that by practicing success principles such as Commitment, Acceptance and Socialization, to name a few, Anything is Possible! A must read for any mom, young or old, who is in need of an infusion of inspiration and information.

This book truly inspires and motivates any mother. I truly enjoyed the easy reading and the guides that are used in the book. Anyone that orders the book will be inspired to order more copies for family and friends.

Perhaps one of the most powerful yet ignored American voices of his time was Melvin Tolson, whose work unashamedly demanded a level of literacy and general knowledge only to be found in the classic talented fraction of any population. Born in the late 19th century he was educated and became a college professor against the odds of racial injustice, and rose above those circumstances to inspire generations after him to achieve excellence in spite of difficult odds.

Tolson's "Dark Symphony" particularly excited this writer, who saw him read excerepts from this piece when he visited his Alma Mater(and mine), Lincoln University Penna., six months before he died in 1966. His work is so classic that in time Tolson, I believe, will become "Poet Laureate of the U.S." the country he so loved.

Melvin B. Tolson was recognized as one of the first African American poets whose poetry has been classified as being in the esoteric category. The implication of this statement means that Tolson was writing poetry in a format which would be acceptable by the greatest English and American poets. One of them who recognized Tolson was W.H. Auden, who wrote favorable reviews about Tolson's poetry. Tolson, who came after the last years of the Harlem Renissance era, knew many of the prominent writers and poets of that era, which lasted from the 1920s through the 1930s. He knew many of the well known writers and poets of that period, including Langston Hughes, Richard Wright, Zora Hurston, V.F. Cavington, Ralph Ellison, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Gwendolyn Brooks, Margaret Walker, W.E.B. Dubios, James Weldon Johnson and Charles S. Johnson. While he was at Wiley College, Marshall, Texas, Tolson established his reputation by publishing his first book of poems entitled, Rendezvous with America, in 1944. For years prior to that date, Tolson taught English classes to thousands of students since his arrival there from Lincoln University, Chester, Pennsylvania, in 1923. Also he was the coach of the famous Wiley College Debate Team, which included, James Farmer, who later became the founder of the CORE Civil Rights Organization.

Raymond Nelson edits Harlem Gallery And Other Poems Of Melvin B. Tolson (1865-0), which presents works from one of the most recognized black voices in American poetry. His poems are here organized by topic and include notes for further study.

Rita Dove's poetry won her a Pulitzer in her mid-thirties; she went on to became the youngest (and first African-American) Poet Laureate of the United States. It should not be surprising, then, that her first venture into playwriting has produced an enormously powerful and beautiful work. The themes are intricate, the main characters full-bodied and the language -- oh, the language -- nothing short of stunning. What is surprising is that, with all of the above and with a premise that could easily lend itself to parodic or pretentious treatment, she has produced a play that imitates nothing, never takes itself too seriously and expresses itself (dare I say despite its monumental lyricism?) with clarity. Above is from Les Gutman's monthly report from DC where the play is currently running in Washington. And here, for Amazon.com customers, his final paragraph: While most plays are probably better seen than read, I'm inclined to think this one may be a good one to enjoy on the page as well. The poetry is too good to experience only in passing. I am ordering an inexpensive copy of it. To read his whole review and check out the many other features at CurtainUp, the New York City based Internet magazine of theater reviews and related features.

The Darker Face of the Earth is a wonderful book. It keeps the reader on the edge of his seat. The play is based on the well know Greek story of Oedipus, so it makes the story easier to follow for the reader. Even though you know what will happen in the end of the story it is still surprisingly suspenseful. There are many more actions in this play that lead up to the conclusion than in Oedipus, which adds to the enjoyment of reading this book. The Darker Face of the Earth is an excellent mix of the tangles of a mother and son caught in their sins, and the hardships of slavery. The play is a quick read and I recommend it to anyone who has a free hour or two, because once you start reading this book you will not be able to put it down.

My husband had an aneurysm and can not longer read. He was a college professor and loved to read short stories. This CD has been a godsend.

I really enjoyed this audiobook, particularly the first story. It had me laughing out loud! There is a good variety here, I would say something for everyone. of the 6 stories, only 1 did I think was so-so, the other 5 were great! Overall, a great audiobook for the car on a long trip.

This is a wonderful collection of poetry that would be ideal for someone wanting to sample poetry or perhaps give as a gift. There is something in the 300 plus poems by 94 of America's best poets that will appeal to virtually any reader remotely interested in poetry. The reader can sample the works of both well known poets like Philip Levine, Ruth L. Schwartz, and Billy Collins as well as lesser known but highly regarded one's such as Tracy K. Smith, Nick Flynn, and Joy Katz. The subjects addressed run the gambit from love, desire, death, and family relationships to a host of other offerings that make this a literal poetry feast of some of the best of the best in contemporary American poetry. A major offering that is sure to delight.

Rita Dove's poetry permeates this remarkable new play which uses the Oedipal myth as a structural device as well as a means to enter the world of human slavery as practiced in South Carolina circa 1829-1840. Central to the story is the unusual and compelling relationship between the plantation owner, Amalia Jennings, and her newly acquired revolutionary slave, Augustus Newcastle. Unlike the other slaves who collectively function as the Greek chorus, Augustus can read and write, thus making him not only dangerous but attractive to the high spirited Amalia. Greek mythology aside, THE DARKER FACE OF THE EARTH is a challenging play not only for the reader but for potential producers. But it is well worth the challenge. It is rare that depictions of the conditions of slavery are revealed by 1) an African American, 2) a woman, 3) a poet, and 4) a master storyteller.

Rita Dove's Thomas and Beulah was a fantastic story of two people's journey through life together. It is broken up into two sections: Mandolin, and Canary in Bloom. The first section is written through the eyes of Thomas and the second is from Beulah's perspective. What is fantastic about the way this book is written and organized is that all the poems are connected in sequence and tell a story. Unlike many of the books of poetry that I have read, I did not have to bounce back and forth from this book to my dictionary. Dove's approach to writing poetry is very straight-forward and from the heart. The book reads as if it was a personal memoir from both Thomas and Beulah.

You can relate to the couple and really are drawn in by the imagery and metaphors that Dove uses. Pay attention to the use of wings, salt, fish, canary, feet, heart, music, yellow, flowers, and tears. All contribute in great deal to the depth of each poem. One of my favorite poems from this book is "Courtship, Diligence." In this poem, Beulah is listening to him play the same old mandolin that he has played for years. As she sits she imagines a life where she doesn't have to listen to the same old mandolin and see his same old yellow scarf. Thomas has no idea of her thoughts and is playing as well as he could to make her happy. This really made me think of past relationships and how one person could be very happy and try their best to please the one they love with what they are given. Yet, sometimes no matter how hard one person tries, the other is just simply unhappy. The use of mandolin in this poem is just one example of Dove's imagery. When she is using mandolin, it is representing some feeling or stage in Thomas' life. Whether young and recalling memories, anxious in new love, or old and recovering from a heart attack, the mandolin is an intricate imagery tool. Another fantastic poem is "Variation on Pain." This poem draws back memories of slavery when African Americans were forced to have their ears pierced. The mandolin is again used in this poem, and it draws forth these memories of "two greased strings for each pierced lobe." The third stanza, however, is the most powerful. "There was a needle in his head but nothing fit through it. Sound quivered like a rope stretched clear to land, tensed and brimming, a man gurgling air." This is one of the finest examples of the eloquent power that Rita Dove expresses in her writing.

All in all, this is one of the best written works of poetry that I have come across. It is an easy read and as far as books of poetry go, its progressing story makes Thomas and Beulah a real page turner. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is just getting in to reading poetry or even someone who is a poetry connoisseur.

Rita Dove's Thomas and Beulah is a fantastic story of two people's journey through life together. It is broken up into two sections: Mandolin, and Canary in Bloom. The first section is written through the eyes of Thomas and the second is from Beulah's perspective. What is fantastic about the way this book is written and organized is that all the poems are connected in sequence and tell a story. Unlike many of the books of poetry that I have read, I did not have to bounce back and forth from this book to my dictionary. Dove's approach to writing poetry is very straight-forward and from the heart. The book reads as if it was a personal memoir from both Thomas and Beulah.

You can relate to the couple and really are drawn in by the imagery and metaphors that Dove uses. Pay attention to the use of wings, salt, fish, canary, feet, heart, music, yellow, flowers, and tears. All contribute in great deal to the depth of each poem. One of my favorite poems from this book is "Courtship, Diligence." In this poem, Beulah is listening to him play the same old mandolin that he has played for years. As she sits she imagines a life where she doesn't have to listen to the same old mandolin and see his same old yellow scarf. Thomas has no idea of her thoughts and is playing as well as he could to make her happy. This really made me think of past relationships and how one person could be very happy and try their best to please the one they love with what they are given. Yet, sometimes no matter how hard one person tries, the other is just simply unhappy. The use of mandolin in this poem is just one example of Dove's imagery. When she is using mandolin, it is representing some feeling or stage in Thomas' life. Whether young and recalling memories, anxious in new love, or old and recovering from a heart attack, the mandolin is an intricate imagery tool. Another fantastic poem is "Variation on Pain." This poem draws back memories of slavery when African Americans were forced to have their ears pierced. The mandolin is again used in this poem, and it draws forth these memories of "two greased strings for each pierced lobe." The third stanza, however, is the most powerful. "There was a needle in his head but nothing fit through it. Sound quivered like a rope stretched clear to land, tensed and brimming, a man gurgling air." This is one of the finest examples of the eloquent power that Rita Dove expresses in her writing.

All in all, this is one of the best written works of poetry that I have come across. It is an easy read and as far as books of poetry go, its progressing story makes Thomas and Beulah a real page turner. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is just getting in to reading poetry or even someone who is a poetry connoisseur.

I really enjoyed this book because of the unconventional way it was written. I really admire Rita Dove's use of a series of short poems to tell a story. After reading Thomas's half of the book, I couldn't wait to read Beulah's half. The different ways that these two experience the same events, is wonderful. Every poem shows so much feeling; it makes the reader feel like part of what is going on. Once it was pointed out to me that certain symbols stay constant through the entire book, I appreciated the way it was written even more. It gives the reader something to grab onto and follow throughout the sets of narrative poems. In the poems, there is not a use of extremely difficult language. Instead, Rita Dove uses very simple language. The use of simpler words helps convey the time the events were taking place and the people whose point of view they are coming from. By this I mean that historically, because of racism, during these time period many African Americans where not even allowed an education. My favorite poem in the book would have to be "The Zeppelin Factory." In the first stanza, I love the use of the term "whale" to describe the air craft. It gives the image of this gigantic, lumbering piece of machinery. To me it also relates the hollow moan of a whale, to the moaning and creaking of the joints of the airship. The feelings of sadness in the first stanza, quickly translates to the second and third stanzas, as the airship floats out of control, and three people lose their lives. In the third stanza, the image of these tiny looking men falling is absolutely horrifying. It made me realize that I can't even imagine witnessing something so terrible. It made me feel sorry for Thomas, because he didn't even want to be part of the airship in the first place, when he had to work on it, and now he had to witness this depressing event. In the fourth stanza, the reader gets a glimpse into Thomas's feelings of the event. He seems to have feelings of guilt because he did not lose his life that day. The last stanza brings you back to now, with Thomas looking at a Goodyear blimp. When reading this poem, I experienced so many feelings, and so many images ran through my head. The poem just gave mea feeling of guilt, much like Thomas had in the fourth stanza of the poem. This one poem is a great example of how heartfelt and emotional, some of the other poems in the book are. I don't want to give the idea that the entire book is depressing. There are many poems that are lighthearted and will bring a smile right to the readers face. Even though these poems are written about events in a different era, the reader can relate many times throughout the book to the feelings and thoughts going through Thomas and Beulah's head. I would recommend this book to anyone. It is a short read that is definitely worth every second spent reading it.

The collected poems of Rita Dove in the book "Thomas and Beulah" are about the lives of 2 people. These poems also tell two sides of a story. Rita Dove is a 1987 winner of the Pulitzer Prize for poetry. This book of poems is refreshingly different and I strongly recommend it. This book tells a story with these poems. Everything is in sequence from the 1900's, which is when Thomas and Beulah were born, to the 1960's when Beulah passes on. This book tells the lives of a married black couple back in the day. And is separated by "Mandolin", which is Thomas' side, then "Canary in Bloom", which is Beulah's side of the story.
An example of what both people think about the same situation is in the poem "Courtship" on Thomas' side. This is when he wants to please her and so he "warps the yellow silk still warm from his throat around her shoulders (he mad good money; he could buy another.)" On the other side though of what Beulah is feeling in "Courtship, Diligence" is that all she sees is " a yellow scarf run[ing] though his fingers" she also says that "she'd much prefer a scent in a sky-colored flask" and "not that scarf, bright as butter." With that, you can clearly see how the two people are feeling. Thomas is thinking the yellow scarf is something expensive of his that he can give, and Beulah doesn't like it. You have two sides of a story and what each person is feeling and thinking. Through out the book it is the same from. From Thomas' death and how he was feeling then and what Beulah was thinking and feeling at that time too. This book is like a balance between two people. A balance needed for a marriage and it shows the complexity of two lives that see each other and the world in two different ways.
But there is also a closeness that the reader gets because this book draws them in from the realistic situations. In example, from the poem "Variation on Guilt", Beulah is having a baby and he really wants a baby boy. He's scared to find out what she will have and when the doctor comes out and sees a "smirk" on his face he knows it's a girl and "he doesn't feel a thing" but is "weak with rage." This book is really interesting because you can go into the lives of the married couple and know more about their feelings and emotions than what Thomas and Beulah know about each other. Their relationship and building a family is sometimes complex, simple, yet it is still only a shallow view of their lives. From beginning to end this book always keeps you interested. And with the description of how each person had passed away and their experiences brings the reader a little bit closer to them.

Rita Dove, Thomas and Beulah (1987, Carnegie Mellon)

Rita Dove won the 1987 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry with Thomas and Beulah, and it's pretty easy to see why. Dove's poetic biography of her ancestors is hyperkinetic, jazz-infused poetry rooted in the Depression, full of life, sass, and vinegar. Nothing is sacred, from motherhood ("She dreams the baby's so small she keeps/misplacing it") to death ("Later he'll say Death stepped right up/to shake his hand, then squeezed/until he sank to his knees."), and some contemporary jabs mixed in ("...Joanna saying/'Mother, we're Afro-Americans now!'/What did she know about Africa?"). Dove has been one of America's shining poetic voices for two decades now, and there's never not a right time to go back and revisit this stunning collection. Perhaps her strongest work. ****

Rita Dove is not as well-known as Nikki Giovanni or Maya Angelou but she is one of the more accomplished female poets and African Americans of this generation. Her poetry is often simple at times but there are several levels and new information is given regarding her poetry. In this book, she calls upon the ancient Greeks and examines the love between mother and daughter. The poems' settings are as various as Arizona and the streets of Paris and Mexican pyramids. Rita Dove's love of poetry comes through in her work and she should be better known to today's readers.

Rita Dove book, Mother Loves: Poems, Is one of the best book I've ever read. Its so lovely, and eligant. Thank You.

Most readers are more familiar with Rita Dove, the poet. Suprise! Rita Dove has also done short stories and eight of them are collected in this wonderful volume called Fifth Sunday. It is the first collection of short stories by this reknowned poet.

Fifth Sunday opens the door in the life of African-Americans dealing with life in varied settings. Come to church with Valerie as she daydreams about love and ends up in embarassing circumstances. Check out a gang "leader" from the 60's as he gets married and unexpected guests arrive. Share the Spray Paint King's boredom with the psychologist trying to find out why he does this art.

Dove's characters are complex, down to earth and won't hesitate to speak their minds. From the mid-west to Germany journey with these multi-dimensional characters who will surprise you.

I found this book to be a refreshing look at a poet working in another genre. Rita Dove does a superb job and by all means treat yourself to this marvelous work.