What We Ask Of Flesh

by Remica L. Bingham

"What We Ask of Flesh, like the flesh itself, is full of honey and fire. It's impossible not to feel called by these poems, summoned by their rich sound and vatic voice."—Amy Gerstler

Blending biblical characters into a deeply personal history, What We Ask of Flesh tells of women through time, their spirits borne through broken flesh, through wombs and memories. The body becomes instrument as words explore the mystical connection between what was and is.

Women are burdened
with consequence

hard-bought footprints
leading from each father's house

Remica Bingham currently teaches at Norfolk State University.

Genres: Poetry

96 pages, Paperback

First published February 12, 2013

About the author

Remica L. Bingham, a native of Phoenix Arizona, is an alumna of Old Dominion University, Bennington College, and is a Cave Canem fellow. Her first book, Conversion (Lotus Press, 2007), won the Naomi Long Madgett Poetry Award and was shortlisted for the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award. She resides with her husband and children in Norfolk, VA, where she currently serves as the Director of Writing and Faculty Development at Old Dominion University.

Reviews

[Raymond · Rating 3 out of 5]

Favorite poems: "Maieusiophobia" and "House of the Ten Plagues".

[Christian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous book filled with Christian imagery but not in an overbearing way. Bingham has a way of capturing emotion through detail. Mmm. It’s good.

[Clark Knowles · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of poems beautiful and tough in equal measure, full of spirit and fire. The title poem alone is worth the cost of admission. "How I Crossed Over" traces the author's path into poetry with sections named after poets who blazed a trail for her. This collection proves that she deserves to be mentioned with those poets. She is a powerful voice.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful! Loved it. Here's my review on the New Orleans Review website: http://www.neworleansreview.org/what-...