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David Joel Friedman (1939-2021)

We here at Augury Books wish to celebrate the life of poet David Joel Friedman, who won the 2012 Augury Books Editors’ Prize with his poetry collection, Soldier Quick With Rain.

Sadly, David passed away earlier this week.

Below you’ll find a loving tribute from his friend and fellow poet Geoffrey Nutter, included here with his permission.

But first, here’s a short excerpt from David’s poem “Having Said That”:

“Having said that, let me say this. It is too soon to be a number-cruncher. It is too late to be a second-guesser. But it is right on time to be a hedgehog. Indeed the blue sky is a skein.”

With much respect & admiration, The Editors

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Arisa White interviewed by Matthew Zapruder at The Adroit Journal

The Possibility the Horizon Grants: A Conversation With Arisa White

“[W]hat I’ve come to realize is that through poetry I am charting the inner life, and often traces of that linger as object, in memory, in historical record. So now, I must investigate my own inner life and the inner lives of those around me. This is where that poetic impulse takes over, to wonder, turn over, feel and draw connections. When I’m reconstructing an inner life, my own included, I’m using my body as the verb—the is, to be—in metaphoric equations. It is through my metaphors that I’m better able to tell an emotional truth that often goes unnoticed.” (read more)

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Black Lives Matter

Dear friends and readers, we wanted to write and reaffirm our stance that Black Lives Matter. 

What’s happening across the country is incredible and necessary and long overdue. Millions of people have flooded the streets, taken to social media, toppled racist statues, raised their voices, and put their lives on the line to make change happen. It’s got to happen. We stand with the protestors’ calls to reimagine public safety and reform all systems and institutions that continue to threaten Black lives on a daily basis. We count ourselves among those examining our own personal culpability, simultaneously humbled and galvanized during these moments of self-interrogation as we contemplate what collective actions might best serve to dismantle the structural and systemic racism endemic to our culture. We are hopeful and determined as we join so many empowered others in fighting for racial justice and equality. Things must change, the movement can only be forward. Friends, we honor your marching and messaging and critiquing and having those hard conversations in this fight for progress—we promise to do the same.

To support Black voices and Black art, we urge our subscribers to buy books by Black authors from Black-owned independent bookstores, visit Black-owned galleries across the US, watch plays by Black writers, and listen to Black journalists discuss the media’s reckoning with racism and white supremacy. We would also suggest visiting NY Magazine‘s comprehensive web page for additional guidance on actions and funding suggestions in support of Black lives and communities of color.