Description
Black Lawrence Press, paperback
Publication Date: July 15, 2025
Publisher Marketing: The Japanese word ‘ koan’ is a seemingly unanswerable riddle used by practitioners of Zen Buddhism to trigger spiritual enlightenment and understanding. Ghetto Koans: A Personal Archive is a vibrant genre-busting collection of voices, observations and memories that trigger nostalgia of a lost time, lost neighborhood, lost city. Cagney masterfully weaves together monologues, documentary-style narratives, and keen observations, offering a profound glimpse into the lives and stories that shape this unique community and beyond.
From direct door-to-door salesmen and flirtatious phlebotomists to rotary telephones and an appreciation of clotheslines, each poem serves as a window into the heart of the Bay Area, capturing the raw beauty, struggles, and curious triumphs of its people. Cagney’s words resonate with authenticity and depth, making this collection a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the rich tapestry of urban life. Experience the power of poetry that transcends boundaries and speaks to the universal human experience. Ghetto Koans: A Personal Archive is a journey through the soul of a community, told with unparalleled honesty and grace.
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