Affrilachia: Poems

Affrilachia by Frank X. Walker feels universal and intimate all at once. Walker weaves humor and serious observation into his poems in a way that keeps the reader engaged and entertained while provoking thought. His poems explore his own life experience and the experiences of those around him. His observations on people's behavior and choices often hit hard against the preconceived notions people tend to assign to one another. He dives headfirst into the societal ills so many people work so hard to ignore. Affrilachia is a beautiful, powerful examination of life that deeply resonated with my heart, soul, and mind.

I met Dr. Walker, did not know who he was at the time, which gave his friends quite a laugh. His book isn't as wonderful as hearing him read in person, but at least one of the poems I found quite touching. This book reflects a lot of growing up southern that is not limited to being black. I am not easy to please when it comes to the poetry genre, but I keep this book on my "good" shelf.