The New Yorker: Poetry cover image

Jericho Brown Reads Elizabeth Alexander

The New Yorker: Poetry

CHAPTER

Echoes of Elizabeth Alexander's Poetry

This chapter explores the profound impact of Elizabeth Alexander's poem 'When?', reflecting on its significance within Black poetry and culture. The discussion dives into the poem's musicality, structure, and emotional depth as it serves as an elegy for a lost generation due to AIDS. Through this analysis, the speakers celebrate the intertwining of personal and collective narratives, emphasizing the enduring legacy of Black identity and community in Alexander's work.

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