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‘Weather’ ‘Weather’
(about 1 hour later)
This week, we asked two prominent American poets to write original poems for the Book Review responding to this historic moment in our country. Claudia Rankine, whose poem “Weather” appears here and on the front cover of the June 21 issue, is the author of “Citizen: An American Lyric” and other collections, as well as two plays and various essays. She teaches at Yale. Her new book, “Just Us: An American Conversation,” will be published in September. Jericho Brown’s third volume of poetry, “The Tradition,” won the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for poetry. His poem “Say Thank You Say I’m Sorry” appears on the back page of the issue. This week, the Book Review asked two prominent American poets to write original poems responding to this historic moment in our country. Claudia Rankine, whose poem “Weather” appears here and on the front cover of the June 21 issue, is the author of “Citizen: An American Lyric” and other collections, as well as two plays and various essays. She teaches at Yale. Her new book, “Just Us: An American Conversation,” will be published in September. Jericho Brown’s third volume of poetry, “The Tradition,” won the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for poetry. His poem “Say Thank You Say I’m Sorry” appears on the back page of the issue.
WeatherWeather
On a scrap of paper in the archive is writtenOn a scrap of paper in the archive is written
I have forgotten my umbrella. Turns outI have forgotten my umbrella. Turns out
in a pandemic everyone, not just the philosopher,in a pandemic everyone, not just the philosopher,
is without. We scramble in the drought of informationis without. We scramble in the drought of information
held back by inside traders. Drop by drop. Faceheld back by inside traders. Drop by drop. Face
covering? No, yes. Social distancing? Six feetcovering? No, yes. Social distancing? Six feet
under for underlying conditions. Black.under for underlying conditions. Black.
Just us and the blues kneeling on a neckJust us and the blues kneeling on a neck
with the full weight of a man in blue.with the full weight of a man in blue.
Eight minutes and forty-six seconds.Eight minutes and forty-six seconds.
In extremis, I can’t breathe gives wayIn extremis, I can’t breathe gives way
to asphyxiation, to giving up this world,to asphyxiation, to giving up this world,
and then mama, called to, a calland then mama, called to, a call
to protest, fire, glass, say their names, sayto protest, fire, glass, say their names, say
their names, white silence equals violence,their names, white silence equals violence,
the violence of again, a militarized policethe violence of again, a militarized police
force teargassing, bullets ricochet, and civilforce teargassing, bullets ricochet, and civil
unrest taking it, burning it down. Whateverunrest taking it, burning it down. Whatever
contracts keep us social compel us nowcontracts keep us social compel us now
to disorder the disorder. Peace. We’re outto disorder the disorder. Peace. We’re out
to repair the future. There’s an umbrellato repair the future. There’s an umbrella
by the door, not for yesterday but for the weatherby the door, not for yesterday but for the weather
that’s here. I say weather but I meanthat’s here. I say weather but I mean
a form of governing that deals out deatha form of governing that deals out death
and names it living. I say weather but I meanand names it living. I say weather but I mean
a November that won’t be held off. This timea November that won’t be held off. This time
nothing, no one forgotten. We are here for the stormnothing, no one forgotten. We are here for the storm
that’s storming because what’s taken matters.that’s storming because what’s taken matters.