2020 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry - The Tradition

 


The Tradition is a poetry collection by Jericho Brown that was published in 2019. The collection won the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. The poems in The Tradition explore a wide range of topics, including race, sexuality, violence, and love.

The book is divided into five sections:

  • The Tradition
  • The Body
  • The Lover
  • The Witness
  • The Prayer

The first section, The Tradition, explores the history of racism and violence in America. The poems in this section often use imagery of flowers and plants to represent the beauty and resilience of the African American community.

The second section, The Body, explores the physical and emotional experiences of being a black body in America. The poems in this section often deal with themes of pain, trauma, and healing.

The third section, The Lover, explores the joys and challenges of love and relationships. The poems in this section often deal with themes of intimacy, vulnerability, and loss.

The fourth section, The Witness, explores the role of the poet as a witness to the violence and injustice in the world. The poems in this section often call for action and change.

The fifth and final section, The Prayer, is a collection of prayers for healing and hope. The poems in this section offer a message of resilience and strength in the face of adversity.

The Tradition is a powerful and moving collection of poems that explores the complex and often painful experiences of being black in America. The poems in this collection are a testament to the strength and resilience of the African American community.

Here are some of the poems from The Tradition:

  • The Tradition

I begin with love, hoping to end there.

I don't want to leave a messy corpse.

  • The Body

I called those women old

Because they wouldn't move out of a chair

Without my help or walk without a hand

At the base of their backs.

  • The Lover

I am the one who loves you

When you are not lovable.

  • The Witness

I am the one who sees you

When you are not seen.

  • The Prayer

God, give me the strength

To love the world

Even when it hates me.

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