George Elliott Clarke Books

This incandescent book subscribes to the adage that "Good poems should rage like a fire, burning all things." Blue is black, profane, surly, damning - and unrelenting in its brilliance. Clarke writes: "I craved to draft lyrics that would pour out like Pentecostal fire - pell mell, scorching, bright, loud: a poetics of arson." Blue is divided into five parts that skillfully turn rage into a violet bruise of love and mourning. From the "Nasty Nofaskoshan Negro" of the Black section to the shocking satires of the red section, from the fierce tenderness of Gold Sapphics to the haunting lament of Blue Elegies, Clarke has written urgent and necessary poems - poems that burn and illuminate with their fury, truth, and beauty.

A stirring, epic poem vibrating with energy and music that spans White's birth in 1911 and two World Wars.

Exploring the dualities of his upbringing in the Black Canadian community of Africadia, George Elliott Clarke's memoir delves into the cultural and familial pressures of his early life. Balancing expectations from a distinguished lineage with the warmth of his mother's rural roots, he recounts a complex relationship with his father, marked by both admiration and trauma. Through vivid storytelling, Clarke reflects on his journey as a poet shaped by love, fear, and the secrets of his family's past, offering an intimate look at identity and resilience.

In "The Quest for a 'National' Nationalism," George Elliott Clarke examines E.J. Pratt's ambition to represent Canada through epic poetry. While Pratt's works, like "Brebeuf and His Brethren," are significant literary achievements, Clarke argues that Pratt fails to authentically voice the diverse identities of all Canadians, particularly Francophones, Indigenous peoples, and People of Colour. Instead, Pratt's legacy is tied to the establishment, highlighting the limitations of his perspective as an epic poet. The lecture is part of a prestigious series honoring Pratt's influence.

Exploring the Transatlantic Slave Trade and colonialism, the epic poem delves into themes of resistance and cultural identity. The later sections reinterpret scriptures through an African lens, culminating in a focus on the African Baptist Association of Nova Scotia. This work stands as a unique contribution to Canadian literature, blending influences from poets like Pound and Walcott while maintaining Clarke's distinct voice. It represents a profound exploration of history, theology, and the African diaspora's experience.

In Zanzibar, in 2008, George Elliott Clarke began to write his "Canticles," an epic poem treating the Transatlantic Slave Trade, Imperial and colonial conquest, and the resistance to all these evils. That is the subject of Canticles I (MMXVI) and (MMXVII). In Canticles II (MMXIX) and (MMXX), Clarke rewrites significant scriptures from an oral and "African" or "Africadian" perspective. Now, in Canticles III (MMXXII) and (MMXXIII), Clarke shifts focus--from world history and theology -- to the specific history and bios associated with the creation of the African ("Africadian") Baptist Association of Nova Scotia. By so doing he concludes the most remarkable epic ever essayed in Canadian letters -- an amalgam of Pound and Walcott -- but entirely and inimitably his own.

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