March Group Read Discussion: Call Us What We Carry: Poems by Amanda Gorman

[Joanna G]

Jen wrote: " Maybe this is my writer brain talking, but perhaps "the page / Glows wide and waiting" for you to write your own thoughts and reactions, an invitation to tell your own story through poetry, and continue the cycle of inspiration and sharing."
Oh that makes sense, especially with the lifted hand. Guess I am too literal and not creative enough for that image to speak to me!

[Joanna G]

Alright, final wrap up questions for this book / the month. Thanks to everyone who participated!

1. What was your overall impression / enjoyment of this collection?
I was just middling on this - it never became a slog, but I was very rarely invested. To be fair, some of that could be because I'm not a frequent poetry reader. I liked how there were some returning themes (like Greek mythology references) and would be interested to see if those would still be used in other poetry of hers.

2. Overall, is there a particular poem, a line or an image that you think will stay with you?

I made note of a line from "School’s Out":

There is power in being robbed                             
& still choosing to dance 

Also, for all that I thought they were gimmicky, some of the visual presentations of the poems (the whale shape, the poem written on a mask) are images that will stick in my mind better than the words.

3. “Ship’s Manifest” the opening poem reads in part:
This book is a message in a bottle.
This book is a letter.
This book does not let up.
This book is awake.
This book is a wake. 

Which of those descriptions is most fitting?  Do any of them not fit?
For me, probably the book is a wake is most fitting. Although there certainly are a number of topics covered, it really felt so about COVID.
And literal me, the book is awake is the line there I'd have the most trouble with.

4. Will you read future work by Amanda Gorman?
Yes, but probably still on the strength of The Hill We Climb rather than this collection.

[L Y N N]

I pretty much inhaled this book and didn't manage to get back to answer the specific questions, but it looks as if you did a superb job of leading and enabling discussion, Joanna! Thank you so much!!