Saeed Jones is a Pushcart Prize-winning writer whose first collection of poetry, PRELUDE TO BRUISE, was a 2014 finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. His 2019 memoir, HOW WE FIGHT FOR OUR LIVES, won the Kirkus Prize for Nonfiction. And his second poetry collection, ALIVE AT THE END OF THE WORLD, is a 2023 winner of an Anisfield-Wolf Book Award, the only national juried prize for literature that confronts racism and explores diversity. In this episode, Annmarie and Saeed talk about weaving both joy and sadness into poetry and what it means to speak each other’s language in grief.
Episode Sponsors:
Prologue Bookshop – Your source for inspiration, imagination, and community in the Short North Arts District in Columbus, Ohio. At Prologue, we value the power of reading and literature, and the connections that come with being a local bookstore in a global world. We’re proud to be independent, and we’re grateful for folks who choose to shop local with us. Learn more at prologuebookshop.com.
Literary Cleveland – Developing writers, amplifying voices, and transforming our community through storytelling. you can explore other voices and discover your own. Search for classes and find your creative community at litcleveland.org.
Titles Mentioned in this Episode:
PRELUDE TO BRUISE, by Saeed Jones
WHEN THE ONLY LIGHT IS FIRE, by Saeed Jones
HOW WE FIGHT FOR OUR LIVES, by Saeed Jones
ALIVE AT THE END OF THE WORLD, by Saeed Jones
ORDINARY NOTES, by Christina Sharpe
Here’s the video for “Sittin’ Up in My Room,” by Brandy.
And check out the Vibe Check podcast that Saeed hosts with Sam Sanders and Zach Stafford.
Follow Saeed Jones:
Instagram: @theferocity
Twitter: @theferocity
www.readsaeedjones.com