A review by totsfions
Mutiny by Phillip B. Williams

challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

Full disclosure, Williams was a professor of mine while I was in college, although I only ever took one class with him. I found this book on the shelves of the library where I now work, and decided to give it a read because I remember the class fondly, and was eager to see Williams' wit, humor, and poignancy on the page. I was blown away. The craft of these poems is unparalleled, and matched with a subject matter and tone that is as captivating as it is gut-wrenching.  Despite the wealth of bad poetry in the world, you will not find a bad poem in this book. My personal favorites in this collection are "Final Poem for the White Students Next Door Who Say 'N*gga' When Singing Along to Rap Songs Loud Enough for Me to Hear," "Final Poem as  Request for Maskot for White-Ran Journal, or 'They Sure do Love Black Pain.'," "Final Poem as Tidalectic Elegy" (this one in particular took my breath away), "Judgement," "Final Poem for the Moon," and "Mastery." I will be recommending this book for a long time to come.