Felon: Poems

Felon: Poems PDF Author: Reginald Dwayne Betts
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
ISBN: 0393652157
Category : Poetry
Languages : en
Pages : 112

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Book Description
Winner of the 2019 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work in Poetry Finalist for the 2019 Los Angeles Times Book Prize in Poetry A searing volume by a poet whose work conveys "the visceral effect that prison has on identity" (Michiko Kakutani, New York Times). Felon tells the story of the effects of incarceration in fierce, dazzling poems—canvassing a wide range of emotions and experiences through homelessness, underemployment, love, drug abuse, domestic violence, fatherhood, and grace—and, in doing so, creates a travelogue for an imagined life. Reginald Dwayne Betts confronts the funk of postincarceration existence and examines prison not as a static space, but as a force that enacts pressure throughout a person’s life. The poems move between traditional and newfound forms with power and agility—from revolutionary found poems created by redacting court documents to the astonishing crown of sonnets that serves as the volume’s radiant conclusion. Drawing inspiration from lawsuits filed on behalf of the incarcerated, the redaction poems focus on the ways we exploit and erase the poor and imprisoned from public consciousness. Traditionally, redaction erases what is top secret; in Felon, Betts redacts what is superfluous, bringing into focus the profound failures of the criminal justice system and the inadequacy of the labels it generates. Challenging the complexities of language, Betts animates what it means to be a "felon."

Felon: Poems

Felon: Poems PDF Author: Reginald Dwayne Betts
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
ISBN: 0393652157
Category : Poetry
Languages : en
Pages : 112

Get Book Here

Book Description
Winner of the 2019 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work in Poetry Finalist for the 2019 Los Angeles Times Book Prize in Poetry A searing volume by a poet whose work conveys "the visceral effect that prison has on identity" (Michiko Kakutani, New York Times). Felon tells the story of the effects of incarceration in fierce, dazzling poems—canvassing a wide range of emotions and experiences through homelessness, underemployment, love, drug abuse, domestic violence, fatherhood, and grace—and, in doing so, creates a travelogue for an imagined life. Reginald Dwayne Betts confronts the funk of postincarceration existence and examines prison not as a static space, but as a force that enacts pressure throughout a person’s life. The poems move between traditional and newfound forms with power and agility—from revolutionary found poems created by redacting court documents to the astonishing crown of sonnets that serves as the volume’s radiant conclusion. Drawing inspiration from lawsuits filed on behalf of the incarcerated, the redaction poems focus on the ways we exploit and erase the poor and imprisoned from public consciousness. Traditionally, redaction erases what is top secret; in Felon, Betts redacts what is superfluous, bringing into focus the profound failures of the criminal justice system and the inadequacy of the labels it generates. Challenging the complexities of language, Betts animates what it means to be a "felon."

Aggravated Felon Poetry

Aggravated Felon Poetry PDF Author: Wendy Grela-Mpoko
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781976930553
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 120

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Book Description
In this collection of poems, Wendy turns an experience that should have broken her spirit, into one that ended up setting her spirit free. In the mist of deportation the only thing that really understood Wendy was The Pen and Paper. Once Wendy started utilizing the tools at hand something magical happened. What started off as an escape turned into a passion. Using words to bring to life colorful experiences from delicacy and wonder, to pure heartache. Wendy's poems are fearless and leave nothing unexplored, no words wasted. This diverse collection stands on no equal ground with anyone else's works, and establishes her as an important poet needed for this generation. Sunny is here to bring back poetry! "POETRY IS NOT DEAD!"

Aggravated Felon: Poetry

Aggravated Felon: Poetry PDF Author: Wendy Grela-M'Poko
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781520709185
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 96

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Book Description
In this collection of poems, Wendy turns an experience that should have broken her spirit, into one that ended up setting her spirit free. In the mist of deportation the only thing that really understood Wendy was The Pen and Paper. Once Wendy started utilizing the tools at hand something magical happened. What started off as an escape turned into a passion. Using words to bring to life colorful experiences from delicacy and wonder, to pure heartache. Wendy's poems are fearless and leave nothing unexplored, no words wasted. This diverse collection stands on no equal ground with anyone else's works, and establishes her as an important poet needed for this generation. Sunny is here to bring back poetry! "POETRY IS NOT DEAD!"

Aggravated Felon

Aggravated Felon PDF Author: Sunny Lee
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781523391615
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 80

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Book Description
In this collection of poems, Sunny Lee turns an experience that should have broken her spirit into one that ended up setting her free spiritually. In the mist of deportation the only thing that Sunny had that could really understood her was a pen and paper. But when she started utilizing the tools at hand something magical happened. What started off as an escape turned into a passion. Using words to bring to life colorful experiences from delicacy and wonder, to pure heartache. They are fearless and leave nothing unexplored, no words wasted. This diverse collection stands on no equal ground with anyone else's works, and it establishes her as an important poet needed for this generation. Sunny is here to bring back poetry! "POETRY IS NOT DEAD!"

Aggravated Felony

Aggravated Felony PDF Author: Wendy Grela-m'Poko
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781731416902
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 108

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Book Description
In this collection of poems, Wendy turns an experience that should have broken her spirit, into one that sets her spirit free. In the midst of deportation the only thing that really understood Wendy was The Pen and Paper. Utilizing the tools at hand something magical happened. What started off as an escape turned into a passion. Using words to bring to life colorful experiences from delicacy and wonder to pure heartache. Poems that are fearless and leave nothing unexplored. This diverse collection stands on no equal ground with anyone else's work. "POETRY IS NOT DEAD "

Shahid Reads His Own Palm

Shahid Reads His Own Palm PDF Author: Reginald Dwayne Betts
Publisher: Alice James Books
ISBN: 1948579928
Category : Poetry
Languages : en
Pages : 69

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Book Description
Gripping and terrifying, eloquent and heartwrenching, this debut collection delves into hellish territory: prison life. Soulful poems somberly capture time-bending experiences and the survivalist mentality needed to live a contradiction, confronting both daily torment and one's illogical fear of freedom.

Redemption's Symphony

Redemption's Symphony PDF Author: Jason Critelli
Publisher: Independently Published
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
In "Redemption's Symphony: Echoes of a Poet's Journey," experience the remarkable poetic odyssey of a convicted felon who found solace, purpose, and ultimate redemption through the power of words. This captivating collection of verses unveils the raw emotions, profound introspection, and transformative insights that emerged from the depths of a troubled past. Immerse yourself in the vivid imagery and lyrical prowess of a poet who, against all odds, discovered the beauty within his own soul. Each poem is a testament to the enduring resilience of the human spirit, seeking catharsis through the intricate tapestry of language and verse. From the shadows of prison bars to the light of self-discovery, these heartfelt compositions delve fearlessly into the complexities of life, love, loss, and the unyielding pursuit of redemption. Through evocative metaphors and introspective musings, the author invites readers to embark on a soul-stirring voyage, navigating the stormy seas of regret and ultimately finding solace in the power of personal transformation. "Redemption's Symphony: Echoes of a Poet's Journey" is a testament to the universal nature of human experience, reminding us that the capacity for growth and renewal resides within us all. It speaks to the transformative power of art, as the author's words emerge from a place of darkness, resonating with authenticity, empathy, and the enduring hope for a brighter tomorrow. With each turn of the page, you will be captivated by the author's ability to turn pain into poetry, to find light in the darkest corners of the soul, and to inspire readers with a renewed belief in the power of second chances. Prepare to be moved, inspired, and forever changed by this exceptional collection of verses, written by a convicted felon turned poet who proves that beauty can emerge even from the harshest of circumstances.

Incarceration Nation

Incarceration Nation PDF Author: Stephen J. Hartnett
Publisher: Rowman Altamira
ISBN: 9780759104204
Category : Literary Collections
Languages : en
Pages : 206

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Book Description
Use of investigative poetics to describe the American justice and penal systems.

Redaction

Redaction PDF Author: Reginald Dwayne Betts
Publisher: National Geographic Books
ISBN: 132400682X
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
MacArthur fellows Reginald Dwayne Betts and Titus Kaphar present a stunning literary and artistic collaboration that confronts the abuses of the criminal justice system. Throughout their award-winning careers, visual artist and filmmaker Titus Kaphar and poet, memoirist, and attorney Reginald Dwayne Betts have shed light on the violences of incarceration and the underexplored contradictions of American history. In Redaction, they unite their different mediums to expose the ways the legal system exploits and erases the poor and incarcerated from public consciousness. First exhibited at MoMA PS1, the fifty “Redaction” prints layer Kaphar’s etched portraits of incarcerated individuals with Betts’s poetry, which uses the legal strategy of redaction to craft verse out of legal documents. Three prints are broken apart into their distinct layers, illuminating how the pair manipulated traditional engraving, printing, poetic, and redaction processes to reveal what is often concealed. This beautifully designed volume also includes additional artwork, poetry, and an introduction by MoMA associate director Sarah Suzuki. The result is an astonishing, powerful exploration of history, incarceration, and race in America.

Black Bone

Black Bone PDF Author: Alexa Marie Kelly
Publisher: Bleakhouse Publishing
ISBN: 9780983776994
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 46

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Book Description
Alexa Marie Kelly's new book of poems puts to rest any delusions about race in America, especially with respect to the criminal justice system. She masters the difficult challenge of capturing imprisonment, including executions and suicides, from an exclusively free perspective. Few outsiders can understand a life in which the man or woman never feels safe anywhere, but Kelly eloquently describes it: "The caged heart has no mornings." Black Bone is disturbing but also necessary if this country is ever to move into a post-racial society and leave behind the perpetual long, dark night of a criminal justice system that values money and power over the individual. It is a tonic to the misinformation one hears during the unending election cycles and a volume that should be on any thinking person's reading list.