Welcome to Midland

by Logen Cure

Welcome to Midland is a queer coming-of-age narrative in verse set against the backdrop of conservative small-town Texas. These linked poems explore the cultural and natural history of West Texas (from the horned lizard to dirt storms to Laura Bush’s car accident), connecting events and movements from across eras to create a tenuous yet strong sense of place. Giving voice to secrets and silence, Welcome to Midland considers identity, community, family, and legend.

Genres: Poetry, Queer, LGBT

100 pages, ebook

First published August 10, 2021

About the author

Logen Cure is a queer poet and educator. She curates Inner Moonlight, a monthly podcast reading series for The Wild Detectives in Dallas. She's an editor for Voicemail Poems. She earned her MFA in Creative Writing from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Her debut full-length poetry collection, Welcome to Midland, released from Deep Vellum Publishing in 2021. She lives in Texas.

Reviews

[Seth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall an enjoyable read about small town Texas life and growing up queer. I couldn’t help but think this could just be a memoir instead of a collection of poems. They just read a little too straight forward and lacked the expansiveness in language poetry allows. It also seems the book moves chronologically, which also makes me think it could just be a memoir in format.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic debut collection about growing up queer in one of the least tolerant parts of America (conservative West Texas). Cure's voice is powerful, steady, and looks the reader in the eye.

[Dr. Amanda]

Enjoyed the poet’s perspective and experiences in Midland, Texas. The place I was born. I feel as though I got a glimpse of what my life could have been like had my family stayed there!

Not rating this because I don’t read enough poetry to even know how to rate it.

[Brett Starr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welcome to Midland is a great collection. I'm happy to have found it somehow, it was a pleasure to read.

The poems cover a wide range of topics - life, relationships, animals. The writing is good across them all.

My favorites were -

Permian Sea
Dream In Which I Am Wile E. Coyote (an absolute stunner, read it a dozen times)
Horned Toad
Grey Fox

Highly recommend collection of poems.

Seek out good books & enjoy.
~ BJ

[rina · Rating 3 out of 5]

A deeply emotional and somewhat sad collection of poems. It’s coming of age, queer; you could feel the weight these have on the author in each piece. The verse is insightful, yet straightforward. I found some pieces lacked more depth for me, but it was also hopeful despite the somber and sometimes dark tone.

Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the arc!

[Raino Isto · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great queer coming-of-age poems, taking place in a rural area with pretty conservative (implied) mores--I can relate. I don't typically like poems that use really short like breaks (with only 3-4 words per line)--they just read as too 'formalist' for no reason. But here it often works well. This was also a random Goodwill find that was definitely a pleasant surprise!

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't seek out poetry for enjoyment. Not like I do novels. But I read that Logen Cure, a Midland native, had this collection out and I wanted to support her. The reward was mine. I read a couple of poems every few days, savoring it. Her poetry is deep and evocative of what it's like to live in west Texas. The landscape, the mood. It's all there. It's toped off with what it's like to grow up in a community that feels provincial when you don't fit like the majority does. I'm very glad I didn't miss the chance to read this. ♥️♥️♥️

[clairemous · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bought this a few years ago and didn't read it in full till now. I think it would have been much better for a high school me, but I appreciate this book and its cute animal side quests <3

[Linda Stack-Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful and honest little slices of life from a type of poet and perspective (rural queer) that don't always get the space they deserve. Harsh and lush as the Texas humidity.