Requiem for a Redbird

by Torli Bush

Requiem for a Redbird is a collection meant to take its readers through five distinct yet interwoven sections; it's a book, in Bush's own words, that is unapologetically both Appalachian and Black. Bush came to sort their work into poems whose main themes begin in Appalachia, end by reflecting on the country as a whole, and thread throughout the complexities of death, intimacy, politics, and faith. According to the author, it is ultimately meant to be a work of joy and hope that points beyond one that subverts the stereotypes of their home region, speaks truth to power, and seeks an open table of reconciliation. Appalachians of every background, minority communities, communities of faith, and anyone disillusioned with our country's political system can find something good, true, and beautiful in this book.

Genres: Poetry

135 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 1, 2024

Reviews

[William Leroux · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful collection of poetry by a native Appalachian. You can feel Bush's love for the region and frustration with its deep-seated issues. It's also a very personal collection, with many poems dealing with the pain of grief, both for Bush's grandfather, who helped raise them, and for their mother, who died in childbirth. My favorite poem was "Visiting my Mother's Grave Alone, for the First Time."

[Kendall Snee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible poet

"To science making you dream of brontosaurus"
"I have taken a liking to sourdough bread savory, toasted, broken with breakfast among friends"
"She would not haunt the exhumists;"

Bush extracts the salt of the earth with this one and calls it what it is -- crystal.

[Donna Burtch · Rating 3 out of 5]

First time reading this writer. Writes of some familiar territory but gets at with a different, compelling approach. Writes about what it is like to live as an Affriclachian, "not brown enough to be true and just brown enough to be a target."

[Gillian Kimmel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely relevant, everyone should read this now more than ever