Commando

BreakBeat Poets

by E'Mon Lauren

E’mon Lauren’s poems take artifacts, language, and ephemera from life on Chicago’s Southside and Westside to create a manifesto of survival and growth. These poems from Chicago’s first Youth Poet Laureate grapple with sexism, racism, love, and class with a style that announces Lauren as a poet to watch.

Commando is an aesthetic stick up, hallelujahs in a handbag with a handgun. The first collection from the city's first youth poet laureate is a manifesto for a solider at war.

Genres: Poetry

40 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2017

About the author

E’mon Lauren was named Chicago’s first Youth Poet Laureate and uses poetry and playwriting to explore a philosophy of hood womanism. Her poem in the issue is from her first chapbook, Commando (Haymarket Books, 2017).

Reviews

[Emily A.L.]

I don’t think it’s fair for me to give this a rating, but damn what an eye-catching cover that is, and the language of these poems by E’mon Lauren read aloud are reminding me just how much I love poetry. Pacing, alliteration, imagery, all flawless.

[Julie]

That first poem took my breath away. Just a stunning use of language, song, and space-time of now. The rest of the collection didn't connect as hard, but I'm so white and getting old, friends. I loved the tight lyricism coupled with an open strength of identity. I loved how each poem begged to be read aloud, not just a quiet reading, but a voiced event - the way poetry is meant to be experienced.

[Greg Adams]

A strong young voice out of Chicago that celebrates Black womanhood and self-empowerment. This is poetry as identity.

[Rich Farrell]

There are some really tight lines and word play in this collection.

[Amanda Torres]

4.5

[flea]

"the whole damn frame" and a sick ass cover

[Idris]

Punch packing chitown voice. Come with that full length now!

[yasmeen]

I love reading poetry books that aren’t as known cause they’re always so cool.

[amirahlynn]

I really did not like this..

[Mike]

I make cereal from cornbread…

Came across Commando when I purchased Go Ahead in the Rain: Notes to A Tribe Called Quest by Hanif Abdurraqib.

Check it out!!

[D.J. Desmond]

Felt real and original

[Yasemin Smallens]

Lyrical, unfolding, and rich. The poems lay bare the city of Chicago through melodic and visceral verse, transforming the material of the city into song.