SO TO SPEAK Penguin Poets

Terrance Hayes is a fine poet and a fine reader of his poetry--and this audiobook offers a lovely experience of both. Some of the poems here, particularly the "American sonnets," a formal variation of Hayes's invention, need a little more help than he can give in terms of identifying the structure of lines and stanzas, so those studying the works may want to have the printed text handy for reference. Still, there is a great deal of pleasure to be had in just listening to the author read as he explores his experiences as a Black man, a father, a son, a student, and an American in the time of President Trump. D.M.H. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2023]