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Another poet I have recently discovered and feel a tiny bit wiser for having done so. Derricotte‘s poems are more personal and sexual than other Black female poets I have come across. Still, she has plenty of things to say about society and being a POC. Sometimes, her poetry feels very raw, which is great but doesn‘t always strike.

I wasn‘t able to get through the whole collection, but I intend to eventually buy myself a copy anyway.

Another 2019 National Book Award for Poetry finalist. This book is full of excellent poems a about Derricotte‘s life: as a child, as an adult, as a black woman who can accidentally or intentionally pass for white and how that makes her feel. Because this is an anthology of her work over time, it is not always as cohesive as a typical collection, but it‘s good. #poetry #nationalbookaward

This was my last read from the National Book Award longlist for poetry, and it took me a long time to finish it. Her poems focus mainly on her relationship with her father, who was at turns caring and abusive, and her identity as a POC who people often assume is white. Many of the other poems relate to her past or are more mundane. This is a large collection, and I was so-so on it overall. 3⭐️