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.