Richard Blanco Knihy

A gender-inclusive anthology of poetry and prose that addresses the physical and psychological act of being “grabbed,” or in any way assaulted.The #MeToo movement, the infamous Access Hollywood tape, and the depraved and hypocritical actions of celebrities, politicians, CEOs, and other powerful people have caused people all over the nation to speak out in outrage, to express allegiance for the victims of these assaults, and to raise their voices against a culture that has allowed this behavior to continue for too long.The editors asked writers and poets to add to the conversation about what being “grabbed” means to them in their own experience or in whatever way the word “grabbed” inspired them. What they received are often searing, heart-rending works, ranging in topic from sexual misconduct to racial injustice, from an unwanted caress to rape, expressed in powerful, beautifully crafted prose and poetry.The writers represented here, some very well known, such as Rita Dove, Jericho Brown, Eileen Miles, Ana Menendez and Sapphire, as well as some newer voices not yet fully discovered, have mined their collective experiences to reveal their most vulnerable moments, and in some cases, to narrate moments that they have had previously been unwilling or unable to speak of. What results is a collection of emotional, hard-hitting pieces that speak to the aftermath of violation—whether mental, emotional, or physical.

A timely and moving collection from the renowned inaugural poet on issues facing our country and people—immigration, gun violence, racism, LGBTQ issues, and more. Through an oracular yet intimate and accessible voice, Richard Blanco addresses the complexities and contradictions of our nationhood and the unresolved sociopolitical matters that affect us all. Blanco digs deep into the very marrow of our nation through poems that interrogate our past and present, grieve our injustices, and note our flaws, but also remember to celebrate our ideals and cling to our hopes. Charged with the utopian idea that no single narrative is more important than another, this book asserts that America could and ought someday to be a country where all narratives converge into one, a country we can all be proud to love and where we can all truly thrive. The poems form a mosaic of seemingly varied topics: the Pulse nightclub massacre; an unexpected encounter on a visit to Cuba; the forced exile of 8,500 Navajos in 1868; a lynching in Alabama; the arrival of a young Chinese woman at Angel Island in 1938; the incarceration of a gifted writer; and the poet’s abiding love for his partner, who he is finally allowed to wed as a gay man. But despite each poem’s unique concern or occasion, all are fundamentally struggling with the overwhelming question of how to love this country.

The collection features a blend of new poems and selections from Richard Blanco's previous works, showcasing his unique ability to weave together cultures and languages. As a Cuban American poet and engineer, Blanco's writing reflects the vibrant and evolving nature of American identity. His intimate and accomplished verses capture the complexities of the past, present, and future, resonating with the hectic and colorful essence of contemporary life. President Joe Biden recognized Blanco's significant contributions to literature with the National Humanities Medal in 2023.

Básnik a prozaik Richard Blanco (1968) z USA vo svojej tvorbe vychádza z kultúrnej konfrontácie a osobného hľadania ako človek patriaci k potomkom kubánskych emigrantov, k sexuálnej menšine či k vnímavým pozorovateľom v nevšímavom svete. Písaním sa vyrovnáva s pocitom absencie vlastného miesta, s neustálymi vonkajšími prekážkami a prirodzenou túžbou prežiť naplnený život. Blanco svoju poéziu zaľudňuje: v jeho veršoch hrá dôležitú úlohu najbližšia rodina, ktorú miluje, ale zároveň neprehliada jej chyby. Chápe ich nostalgiu, uvedomuje si však, že ide o svet, ktorý už nie je jeho, a usiluje sa nájsť identitu, s ktorou sa môže bezvýhradne stotožniť. Autorova poézia je hlboko ľudská a jej tonalita je často humorno-vážna podobne ako básnicky vyrozprávané príbehy, kde sa miešajú nešťastné okamihy a šťastné konce a naopak. Blancova schopnosť preniesť emócie na plochu textu, vystihnúť ľudskú situáciu v niekoľkých slovách a dať hlas iným tak, aby sa nespreneveril vlastnému presvedčeniu, z neho robia neprehliadnuteľného autora v rámci veľkej a rozmanitej literatúry USA. Výnimočné a priam až symbolické postavenie podčiarkuje skutočnosť, že si ho americký prezident Barack Obama (2013) vybral ako svojho inauguračného básnika. Ilustrovala Eva Činčalová.