Category: Black Excellence

A Book Review

I admire writers who can turn words into endless quotable lists. Poetry is meant to be consumed at any given time, and every offering of jagged remnants of you is digestible at all hours of every day.

Barry Dawson Jr. IV, (BJ Dawson) is one such writer. He and I have collaborated on many pieces of poetry, meshing our words and methods together for a tad over twenty years.

I get him. He gets me. Our efforts have not been in vain, and if life favors us, we can expect more collaborative pieces in the future.

For now, please enjoy the review I have done for his second book of poetry, which is currently listed on Lulu and awaiting global distribution by other book retailers.

As a long-time collaborator and lover of wordplay, BJ Dawson did not disappoint with his second offering of poetry, “jagged remnants of you: This Chapbook Was Supposed To Be A Love Note.”

I knew when I cracked open this gem, I would find elements of Frost, Hughes, Plath, Shakespeare, and Baldwin. I also knew that I would feel the pulse of Run DMC, The Roots, Yasiin Bey, and KRS-One.

BJ has managed to lend the subject of love to us as its most undressed and wanted self. There is beauty in the ugliness of the word, whether it be stoic or in action.

Quotables are on nearly every page, and as a writer and reader of poetry, I could not contain my excitement while highlighting phrases and making notes in the margins.

This is an exceptional work of art; a masterpiece on love; the lack of it, attaining & loss of it, and the hope for it to one day show its face again wherever we may seek it, and I applaud BJ’s knowledge of love and how best to write about it.

Not only did he gift us poetry in various forms about a thing many of us have yet to grasp perfectly, but he ended the book on a brilliant note: “I am fresh out of spells and right now, I sure do miss you with a vicious numbness that just won’t let go.” Now if this isn’t a “flawless victory,” in the land of literary victors, I don’t know what is.” 

It is one thing to read a person’s work, critique it, and bask in it because you know they are going to put their all into it and so much more, just as you would. It is entirely another when you read their work and get lost in it, and all you want to do is share it with others because it’s just that good.

BJ, my friend, take a damn bow. You truly deserve it.

Have you gotten your copy of Séduire: Serial Tales & Flash Fiction at Lulu in E-Book & Paperback versions, or Amazon in Paperback (only) yet?

I am on Substack as well. Poking the Bear’s Belly for Fun is a place of healing, as I discuss recent events related to my previous place of employment, including racism and discrimination, the growth I experienced after resigning from that company, and the foibles and overall experiences of life. I welcome your visit.