Ken's Reviews > Watch Your Language: Visual and Literary Reflections on a Century of American Poetry

Good, but not as good as To Float in the Space Between: A Life and Work in Conversation with the Life and Work of Etheridge Knight, which was a sustained contemplation of the work and influence of Etheridge Knight.

In this case, the focus is diffused and divided as Hayes offers short pieces on influential poets -- mostly Black and overlooked -- of the 20th and 21st century. My favorite was the tribute to Yusef Komunyakaa because it was starting to build like all the fine Knight stuff from the last book.

These are a collection of essays previously published in other journals. Reading it makes me wish I could take a course taught by Hayes. Unfortunately he doesn't seem to visit (much less teach in) Maine very often. He's not alone.