Middle Ear

by Forrest Hamer

Poetry. African American Studies. Forrest Hamer's first book, CALL & RESPONSE (Alice James, 1995; also available) won the Beatrice Hawley Award. Now, his newest book is the seventh selection in the new California Poetry Series. These poems speak from Hamer's memories of his Southern childhood, weaving that time into the daily dreams and insights of his life in northern California in a continuing series of vignettes. 'A man writes his dark body,' one poem tells us, and in fact this book inscribes exactly a full, breathing voice, muscular intelligence working in language that both startles and satisfies --Mark Doty.

Genres: Poetry

52 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[melissa]

A man goes deaf because he isn't listening,

Because he lives his life as if

There is nothing here. And, of course,
There is nothing here

Saving what has been heard.

-- "Hearing Loss"