In this Book
- Autogeography: Poems
- Book
- 2013
- Published by: Northwestern University Press
Winner of the Cave Canem Northwestern University Press Poetry Prize
In his second collection of poetry, Reginald Harris traverses real and imagined landscapes, searching for answers to the question “What are you?” From Baltimore to Havana, Atlantic City to Alabama—and from the broad memories of childhood to the very specific moment of Marvin Gaye singing at the 1983 NBA All-Star Game shortly before his death—this is a travel diary of internal and external journeys exploring issues of race and sexuality. The poet traveler falls into and out of love and lust, sometimes coupled, sometimes alone. Autogeography tracks how who you are changes depending on where you are; how where you are and where you’ve been determine who you are and where you might be headed.
Table of Contents
- Acknowledgments
- pp. xi-xiii
- The Poet Behind the Wheel
- pp. 3-18
- Approaching Baltimore
- pp. 4-5
- Eastside Alphabetics
- pp. 6-21
- Crying Man with Broom
- pp. 7-22
- Sonnet: LeatherBoy
- pp. 9-24
- The Poets at the Ball Game
- pp. 10-25
- Baltimore Uproar by Romare Bearden
- pp. 11-26
- Song for My Father
- pp. 13-28
- Dream of My Cousin’s Wedding
- pp. 18-33
- The Lost Boys: A Requiem
- pp. 19-20
- Notes Toward a Poem About Love
- pp. 21-36
- Who I Think You Are
- pp. 22-37
- Atlantic City
- pp. 23-24
- Cuerpo de hombre
- pp. 25-40
- The Man with My Name
- pp. 26-27
- No Admittance
- pp. 28-43
- Trailer Park Self-Portrait
- pp. 29-44
- What Are You?
- pp. 31-46
- Travel Journal
- pp. 32-33
- The Secret of Our Success
- pp. 34-49
- The City Without You
- pp. 35-37
- Poem Based on a Line by Forman
- pp. 38-53
- Out of Town
- pp. 39-54
- The Spinning Song
- pp. 40-41
- Among the Players
- pp. 43-58
- Sunday Brunch
- pp. 44-45
- Colonnade Shop, Havana
- pp. 46-61
- New Rules of the Road
- pp. 49-50
- On the Road
- pp. 51-52
- Captain Blackman
- pp. 53-55
- Retreat Postcards
- pp. 56-57
- Nom de Plume
- pp. 58-73