Tartarus

by Ty Chapman

Tartarus marks author Ty Chapman’s bold entrance into poetry. Between three sections of Basquiat-inspired vignettes, Tartarus offers the reader an unflinching look into Chapman’s emerging understanding of his relationship to Black masculinity through familial ties, the oscillation between nihilism and hope, and the ever present tensions felt moving through a state which sees the existence of your body as an inherent danger.

Genres: Poetry

Kindle Edition

Published February 6, 2024

About the author

Ty Chapman is an author and poet based in Minnesota. He is the author of SARAH RISING (Beaming 2022); LOOKING FOR HAPPY (Beaming 2023); STOKES, written with John Coy (Lerner 2024); JAMES FINDS THE BEAT (Free Spirit 2024); and TARTARUS (Button Poetry 2024). Ty was a 2022 Center for Arts + Social Justice Fellow; an award used to support a speculative work in progress with social justice themes. He was also a Mirrors & Windows fellow, as well as a Mentor Series fellow.

Reviews

[Maggie Corbin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe one day I will have the words to write an eloquent review for this gut-punching book of poetry. But for now all I can say is: read Tartarus.

[Mya Matteo · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The spirit aches most days— / immense bloodcost of godhood. / Our ichor / free-flowing / fresh from the spigot, / Black alluring to wayward gazes. / How it pains to know they held us once / as prophets”

“the way the birds sing regardless / of which war crime took place today.”

“King, I have no rose petals for land I hatefully make a home.” OKAY

“Waters so Black you’d name it night terror; so Black our children / come home. / So Black we call it home.”

[Cavak · Rating 4 out of 5]

On one hand, I sorta wanted a variety of topics in this chapbook. On the other, I can't deny that Chapman's poetry flowed from the tongue while I read them aloud. I liked how Tartarus could be taken both ways and it remains prominent throughout. Just would have liked extensions of the metaphor. Can't wait to hear him on stage someday.

[RACHEL]

Thank you Goodreads First Reads for a copy. Many truths heartbreakinly shared, and may we all work and lived toward the vision of the final poem.

[Kimberly Blanchard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very thought provoking poetry. You can feel the pain of the author and he tries to get the reader to think from the author’s perspective.