Winner of the 1987 American Book AwardThe Essential Etheridge Knightis a selection of the best work by one of the country's most prominent and liveliest poets. It brings together poems from Knight's previously published books and a section of new poems.
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Front Matter Front Matter (pp. [i]-[vi])https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.1 -
Table of Contents Table of Contents (pp. [vii]-2)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.2 -
GENESIS GENESIS (pp. 3-4)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.3 -
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HARD ROCK RETURNS TO PRISON FROM THE HOSPITAL FOR THE CRIMINAL INSANE HARD ROCK RETURNS TO PRISON FROM THE HOSPITAL FOR THE CRIMINAL INSANE (pp. 7-8)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.4 -
CELL SONG CELL SONG (pp. 9-9)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.5 -
HE SEES THROUGH STONE HE SEES THROUGH STONE (pp. 10-11)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.6 -
THE IDEA OF ANCESTRY THE IDEA OF ANCESTRY (pp. 12-13)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.7 -
ON THE YARD ON THE YARD (pp. 14-14)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.8 -
A WASP WOMAN VISITS A BLACK JUNKIE IN PRISON A WASP WOMAN VISITS A BLACK JUNKIE IN PRISON (pp. 15-16)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.9 -
HAIKU HAIKU (pp. 17-18)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.10 -
FOR FRECKLE-FACED GERALD FOR FRECKLE-FACED GERALD (pp. 19-19)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.11 -
THE WARDEN SAID TO ME THE OTHER DAY THE WARDEN SAID TO ME THE OTHER DAY (pp. 20-20)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.12 -
MY LIFE, THE QUALITY OF WHICH MY LIFE, THE QUALITY OF WHICH (pp. 21-21)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.13 -
A POEM FOR BLACK RELOCATION CENTERS A POEM FOR BLACK RELOCATION CENTERS (pp. 22-22)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.14
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YOU ARE YOU ARE (pp. 25-25)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.15 -
THE VIOLENT SPACE (or when your sister sleeps around for money) THE VIOLENT SPACE (or when your sister sleeps around for money) (pp. 26-27)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.16 -
A POEM FOR A CERTAIN LADY ON HER 33rd BIRTHDAY A POEM FOR A CERTAIN LADY ON HER 33rd BIRTHDAY (pp. 28-28)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.17 -
THE STRETCHING OF THE BELLY THE STRETCHING OF THE BELLY (pp. 29-29)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.18 -
AS YOU LEAVE ME AS YOU LEAVE ME (pp. 30-30)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.19 -
NO MOON FLOODS THE MEMORY OF THAT NIGHT NO MOON FLOODS THE MEMORY OF THAT NIGHT (pp. 31-31)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.20 -
UPON YOUR LEAVING UPON YOUR LEAVING (pp. 32-33)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.21 -
FEELING FUCKED UP FEELING FUCKED UP (pp. 34-34)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.22 -
INDIANA HAIKU—2 INDIANA HAIKU—2 (pp. 35-35)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.23 -
FOR LANGSTON HUGHES FOR LANGSTON HUGHES (pp. 36-36)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.24 -
WELCOME BACK, MR. KNIGHT: LOVE OF MY LIFE WELCOME BACK, MR. KNIGHT: LOVE OF MY LIFE (pp. 37-38)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.25 -
ANOTHER POEM FOR ME (after Recovering from an O.D.) ANOTHER POEM FOR ME (after Recovering from an O.D.) (pp. 39-39)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.26 -
THE BONES OF MY FATHER THE BONES OF MY FATHER (pp. 40-41)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.27 -
EVOLUTIONARY POEM NO. 1 EVOLUTIONARY POEM NO. 1 (pp. 42-42)Etheridge Knighthttps://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.28 -
EVOLUTIONARY POEM NO. 2 EVOLUTIONARY POEM NO. 2 (pp. 42-42)Etheridge Knighthttps://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.29
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A POEM FOR MYSELF (or Blues for a Mississippi Black Boy) A POEM FOR MYSELF (or Blues for a Mississippi Black Boy) (pp. 45-45)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.30 -
REPORT TO THE MOTHER REPORT TO THE MOTHER (pp. 46-46)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.31 -
THE SUN CAME THE SUN CAME (pp. 47-47)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.32 -
IT WAS A FUNKY DEAL IT WAS A FUNKY DEAL (pp. 48-48)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.33 -
DARK PROPHECY: I SING OF SHINE DARK PROPHECY: I SING OF SHINE (pp. 49-49)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.34 -
FOR MALCOLM, A YEAR AFTER FOR MALCOLM, A YEAR AFTER (pp. 50-50)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.35 -
A POEM OF ATTRITION A POEM OF ATTRITION (pp. 51-51)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.36 -
FOR BLACK POETS WHO THINK OF SUICIDE FOR BLACK POETS WHO THINK OF SUICIDE (pp. 52-52)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.37 -
FOR MARY ELLEN McANALLY FOR MARY ELLEN McANALLY (pp. 53-53)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.38 -
THE KEEPING OF A PROMISE THE KEEPING OF A PROMISE (pp. 54-54)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.39 -
ILU, THE TALKING DRUM ILU, THE TALKING DRUM (pp. 55-56)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.40 -
POEM FOR THE LIBERATION OF SOUTHERN AFRICA POEM FOR THE LIBERATION OF SOUTHERN AFRICA (pp. 57-58)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.41 -
TELEVISION SPEAKS TELEVISION SPEAKS (pp. 59-59)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.42 -
ON WATCHING POLITICIANS PERFORM AT MARTIN LUTHER KING’S FUNERAL ON WATCHING POLITICIANS PERFORM AT MARTIN LUTHER KING’S FUNERAL (pp. 60-60)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.43
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A FABLE A FABLE (pp. 63-63)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.44 Once upon a today and yesterday and nevermore there were 7 men and women all locked / up in prison cells. Now these 7 men and women were innocent of any crimes; they were in prison because their skins were black. Day after day, the prisoners paced their cells, pining for their freedom. And the non-black jailers would laugh at the prisoners and beat them with sticks and throw their food on the floor. Finally, prisoner #1 said, “I will educate myself and emulate the non-colored people. That is the way to freedom—c’mon, you guys, and follow me.” “Hell,...
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MEMO #9 MEMO #9 (pp. 64-64)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.45 -
MEMO #32 MEMO #32 (pp. 64-64)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.46 -
MEMO #2 MEMO #2 (pp. 65-65)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.47 -
MEMO #5 MEMO #5 (pp. 65-65)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.48 -
PORTRAIT OF MARY PORTRAIT OF MARY (pp. 66-66)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.49 -
MY UNCLE IS MY HONOR AND A GUEST IN MY HOUSE MY UNCLE IS MY HONOR AND A GUEST IN MY HOUSE (pp. 67-68)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.50 -
I AND YOUR EYES I AND YOUR EYES (pp. 69-69)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.51 -
ON THE BIRTH OF A BLACK / BABY / BOY ON THE BIRTH OF A BLACK / BABY / BOY (pp. 70-71)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.52 -
BIRTHDAY POEM BIRTHDAY POEM (pp. 72-72)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.53 -
COP-OUT SESSION COP-OUT SESSION (pp. 73-73)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.54 -
A POEM TO GALWAY KINNELL A POEM TO GALWAY KINNELL (pp. 74-75)Etheridge Knighthttps://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.55 -
MISSOURI HAIKU MISSOURI HAIKU (pp. 76-76)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.56 -
INDIANA HAIKU INDIANA HAIKU (pp. 77-77)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.57 -
WE FREE SINGERS BE WE FREE SINGERS BE (pp. 78-79)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.58 -
TALKING IN THE WOODS WITH KARL AMORELLI TALKING IN THE WOODS WITH KARL AMORELLI (pp. 80-81)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.59 -
BOSTON 5:00 A.M.–10/74 BOSTON 5:00 A.M.–10/74 (pp. 82-82)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.60 -
A POEM ON THE MIDDLE EAST “PEACE PROCESS” A POEM ON THE MIDDLE EAST “PEACE PROCESS” (pp. 83-83)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.61 -
HAIKU 1 HAIKU 1 (pp. 84-84)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.62 -
MEMO #43 MEMO #43 (pp. 84-84)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.63 -
AND TELL ME POET, CAN LOVE EXIST IN SLAVERY? AND TELL ME POET, CAN LOVE EXIST IN SLAVERY? (pp. 85-85)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.64 -
GREEN GRASS AND YELLOW BALLOONS GREEN GRASS AND YELLOW BALLOONS (pp. 86-87)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.65 -
BELLY SONG BELLY SONG (pp. 88-91)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.66 -
APOLOGY FOR APOSTASY? APOLOGY FOR APOSTASY? (pp. 92-92)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.67 -
CON/TIN/U/WAY/SHUN BLUES CON/TIN/U/WAY/SHUN BLUES (pp. 93-94)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.68
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ON SEEING THE BLACK MALE AS # 1 SEX OBJECT IN AMERICA ON SEEING THE BLACK MALE AS # 1 SEX OBJECT IN AMERICA (pp. 97-97)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.69 -
LAST WORDS BY “SLICK” (or a self / sung eulogy) LAST WORDS BY “SLICK” (or a self / sung eulogy) (pp. 98-98)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.70 -
HAIKU HAIKU (pp. 99-101)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.71 -
GENESIS 11 GENESIS 11 (pp. 102-102)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.72 -
EAT HELEN B HAPPY (a found poem) EAT HELEN B HAPPY (a found poem) (pp. 103-103)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.73 -
VARIOUS PROTESTATIONS FROM VARIOUS PEOPLE VARIOUS PROTESTATIONS FROM VARIOUS PEOPLE (pp. 104-104)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.74 -
AT A VA HOSPITAL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: AN ACT IN A PLAY AT A VA HOSPITAL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: AN ACT IN A PLAY (pp. 105-107)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.75 -
ON THE PROJECTS PLAYGROUND ON THE PROJECTS PLAYGROUND (pp. 108-108)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.76 -
CIRCLING THE DAUGHTER CIRCLING THE DAUGHTER (pp. 109-109)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.77 -
FOR A BROOKLINE LADY I LOVE FOR A BROOKLINE LADY I LOVE (pp. 110-110)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.78 -
ONCE ON A NIGHT IN THE DELTA: A REPORT FROM HELL ONCE ON A NIGHT IN THE DELTA: A REPORT FROM HELL (pp. 111-111)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.79 -
A BLACK POET LEAPS TO HIS DEATH A BLACK POET LEAPS TO HIS DEATH (pp. 112-113)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.80 -
REHABILITATION & TREATMENT IN THE PRISONS OF AMERICA REHABILITATION & TREATMENT IN THE PRISONS OF AMERICA (pp. 114-114)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.81 The Convict strolled into the prison administration building to get assistance and counseling for his personal problems. Inside the main door were several other doors proclaiming: Doctor, Lawyer, Teacher, Counselor, Therapist, etc. He chose the proper door, and was confronted with two more doors: Custody and Treatment. He chose Treatment, went in, and was confronted with two more doors: First Offender and Previous Offender. Again he chose the proper door and was confronted with twomoredoors: Adult and Juvenile. He was an adult, so he walked through that door and ran smack into twomoredoors: Democrat and Republican....
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Back Matter Back Matter (pp. 115-115)https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt6wrb5v.82