Weekly Geeks: I simply loved your work

Dear Tara,

As I myself write poetry, I am always in look out for good contemporary poetry books. I found out about your poetry book, Arc & Hue, in the web world. The various excerpts I read made me want that book. Here I reproduce few lines that made an impact on me. I hope more readers get to know about your poetry. Don't you think, we poets need to unite and help spread poetry?

Gautami

Arc & Hue (Willow Books, 2009)

by Tara Betts

90 pp. ISBN: 978-0-9819208-7-0.

Just read this:

“Why I Collect The Hair”

Years ago, a college boyfriend left my bed

to go home. His mother honed in

on the brassy streaks

and pulled them off

with what white girl are you seeing?

So, I’m still plucking, gathering up

small tumbleweeds in my palm,

clues that deny brown

coiled inside me.

and this:

“The Birth, Then Roses”

How each red silky slip of slower body must have

brushed against my mother’s face. Heavy sugar

to claim the carriage and birth,

not enough to coat pricks to come.

How the fists and philandering were unexpected.

How much sweeter it felt to hear the name

of her first child, a daughter, pulling away,

out of her, pushing a path into chaos that begins

them both.

My mother needed more than petals.

Need I say more, why I need to to get hold of it?