Beautiful use of the page (think Kwame Alexander or Jason Reynolds, or even Sharon Creech). I would recommend this title to lovers of poetry and novel in verse, particularly those who are willing to take time to reflect, and want a short read that sticks with them for a while.

"I might undo the forest winding its way along the sides of my face so that I can more closely resemble a man worthy of waking to roses at his feet in a kill or be killed" (23) ( )

I'm at a loss for words. This was so very moving. I adore how Abdurraqib mixes social and personal commentary with his obvious love of music. I wouldn't dare be so bold as to claim I understood everything I just read. But I definitely experienced it. ( )

A Fortune for Your Disaster is an overwhelmingly fantastic collection of contemporary poetry. Rich, meaningful images parade through every poem, taking readers into deeply understood emotions. The works express pain, turmoil, depravation at the hands of others. The poems elicit strong reactions in readers, growing stronger with every re-reading of the poems
Every poem tells about the experience of being marginalized by America's racist society. That racism exists not just in its most obvious forms but even more in its subtle forms, the forms we most like to ignore and pretend do not exist. It is this form of subtle racism that assigns waiters to be white and dish washers and busboys to be brown. It assigns lead roles in films to be played by one race and supporting roles by others. It allows peaceful protests to turn into riots and then be condemned instead of heard. It expresses surprise when a Black woman wins a Nobel Prize for Literature (Toni Morrison) or amasses a billion dollar personal fortune (Oprah Winfrey) while also being far more respected the a billionaire white man playing golf and sending tweets even as the country he leads descends into chaos.
Symbolism throughout each poem augments the very format of the book. Three divisions separate the poetry into sections: The Pledge, The Turn and The Prestige, terms taken from magicians symbolically stating the magical impact of poetry. The poetry works as a form of magic, casting spells on readers. It bring us to the awareness that we all share in the pain we create.
This use of symbolism also appears through the repeated poetry about Marvin Gaye, Nikola Tesla and in several poems carrying the same title used repeatedly with different content.
Abdurraquib also uses the tools of poems often unseen or unnoticed by readers: white space, positioning on a page, line breaks and other devices. Often, verses are separated by a slash rather than a line break, protecting the rhythm of the poem while highlighting its impact.
This is a rich collection from beginning to end. I found favorites, of course, as well as a few I simply did not quite understand, but I also found some I will not soon forget.
A recurring title, "How Can Black People Write About Flowers At A Time Like This," carries with it the messages that pain exists in all times but that, on the other side of pain is hope and beauty. After all, we cannot admire the beauty of flowers carried to ur funerals.
"I Tend To Think Forgiveness Looks The Way It Does In The Movies," is the poem that strikes me the most and to which I have come back to that poem more than any others.
There is also some prophesy, some prescient understandings in the poetry. Our current times filled with pandemic, economic collapse, corrupt and incapable government and divisiveness between citizens rather than the unity we need is summed up, in three short phrases in the poem, "No Diggity," when it says, "party's over boys/where we going/for breakfast." Yes, the old party, the old life we have lived for so long is over. Where are we going as we start a new day in our lives? ( )

Really gorgeous poetry; the poems about Marvin Gaye in particular felt so powerful and compassionate at the same time. Sometimes the poems felt kind of cerebral, but then there are just lines that completely rend you and it's amazing. ( )