Enthralled with poetry

thrall –by Natasha Trethewey

Poetry

84 pages

Footnotes/Endnotes: Yes

Suitable for eReaders: Yes

Illustrations: No

5 Stars

For those of you who have not read Ms. Trethewey's poetry before, you are in for a treat! It is easy to understand why she was appointed Unites States Poet Laureate in June 2012.

These poems come from two primary sources – both common to all poets: art and family. She gives a very short introduction to the poems inspired by art, and though I have not seen the paintings she describes in actuality, after her poems I have seen the paintings.

She comes from Gulfport, Mississippi, and many of her poems are inspired by her parents, and growing up in that part of the world.

The poetry is beautiful, it sings with notes reaching deep sadness and full happiness. If you've ever wondered what kind of a poet becomes our US Poet Laureate, give this book a read. Her poetry can be read by anyone, it is not written for the "high brow," it is written for anyone who cares to pick it up and read it.

Not only is her poetry accessible, but I understand from some of my poet friends that she is, too. She has been reappointed as our nation's poet laureate. The poem that grabbed me when I picked up the book and opened it at random begins –

Enlightenment

In the portrait of Jefferson that hangs

            at Monticello, he is rendered two-toned:

his forehead white with illumination—

I stopped after that first stanza, thinking about several things, how enlightened he was for his time, how intelligent, and how dark. How he kept slaves; how he slept with one, Sally Hemings but did not acknowledge his sons by her even though they had his coloring and red hair, and barely his daughters; how his sons as his slaves helped build the university, but could not attend; how he would not free his children, but did help them 'walk' to freedom. Two-toned. Light and dark. Good and conflicted. Human.