boy if

by Carlito Espudo

Winner of the 2019 OutWrite Chapbook Competition in Poetry. Selected by Wo Chan. A 5”x5” chapbook. 48 pages.

“A voyage and a promise, boy if steers the conditional waters of gender, memory, and family through a constellation of lyric and song. Espudo’s debut is genuine and intelligent, tipping the tradition of poetic portraiture into queer time. boy if does not reflect—it renders. It resumes and it restores. One feels a heartbeat reading these poems.” — Wo Chan

Genres: Poetry

48 pages, Paperback

First published August 2, 2019

Reviews

[Jo Reyes-Boitel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a gorgeous chapbook. I am captivated by its honesty, its turns at desire and identity. I keep buying this book because I keep putting it in others’ hands. A must read.

[Beatrice · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an utter delight to read. I appreciated it so much as someone who is wading through my own horrible tar pit of gender confusion - it's a gift to be able to dwell in someone else's thoughts for a moment, seeing through their words how they shape themselves.

The title poem was lovely, and I may have enjoyed the little gem-like short poems, like "canta" and "Psalm Song," even more. A beautiful physical book and a definite keeper for its insides.

[Jenn "JR" · Rating 5 out of 5]

This sweet chapbook is like a mini-memoir of family and culture, relationships and gender. Merits re-reads on a regular basis.

[Em T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read and re-read this chapbook so many times. Always stained with emotions when finished - simply scintillating.