A review by repeatbeatpoet
Finna: Poems by Nate Marshall

dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

4.25

Eve L. Ewing puts it succinctly in her quote for the blurb; 'this book catalyzes a necessary conversations about Black (American) language practices, culture, ownership, and belonging, and the commodification of Black people's tongues'. 

It takes a writer as assured in their voice, their location in conceptual history, and also in time & place, to make such a feat of writing look so effortless. Finna is pre-occupied with issues of how to live a good life as a Black person, of how to live oneself to the fullest, of family and friend relationships, of relationships with home and the neighbourhood, to slang and Black linguistics, and to be a man loving, learning from, being raised by, and being often in conflict with Black women. 

Really enjoyed this collection, highly recommend for fans of contemporary US poetry.

Fave poems - 

Epicene - on Black masculinity/Black femininity, relations between.
The Homies Ask If I'm Tryna Smash - on languages around sex
An Uncle's Fable For Consent - advice given in the imaginary, then advice as memory.
Sweet Breath - when language fails//the language of lovers
Conceal - for the grandmas and all the lives they lead
My Mother's Hands - like Grandma's Hands (Bill Withers), a poem/prayer
Let Me Put It To You Like This Fam - narrative, it's about perspective. Surviving/almost dying. 
What It Is & Will Be - ain't yet no word for the world we're building - but we're working.
Which Art? What Fact? - on the (im)permanence of everyday Black life in history, the exhibition/consumption of Black life.