Troubled Tongues

by Crystal Williams

In each of the three sections of this book is a prose poem meant to be read aloud in which a character, interacting with other characters, is named for a quality. They are Beauty, Happiness, and Patience. The author is strong on parables: "Parable of Divas," "Parable of the Chicken Wing," "Parable of Ancestors," "Parable of Kings & Queens," and "Sugar, or Parable on Liberals." We find the characters in this book in beauty salons, in a tornado, on a porch, and in various locations where discuss and interact with one. another. The author's style is interestingly unique. Troubled Tongues was the winner of the 2006 Naomi Long Madgett Poetry Award.

Genres: Poetry

71 pages, Paperback

First published January 15, 2009

Reviews

[Alisa]

I kept this book open in a browser window this week, reading a bit here and there as I took breaks from Twitter. It was a good distraction, reset button, disinfectant for the soul. I read the [aloud] poems aloud. Those were my favorite.