Overview
With the publication of Finding Fish, his memoir of a childhood spent in foster homes in and around Cleveland, Antwone Fisher shared with the world his story of perseverance, determination, and courage. And he also showed that within him beat the heart of an artist — a major factor in his resilience and recovery.
Now with Who Will Cry for the Little Boy?, his first collection of poetry, Antwone Fisher reveals the inner truths that took him from a tumultuous childhood to the man he is today. The powerful poems presented here range from impressions and expressions of Antwone's years growing up to the love that he has gained from the family he made for himself as an adult.
From the title poem — which is featured prominently in the movie Antwone Fisher — a plaintive, haunting tribute to a childhood lost to abuse and neglect, to "Azure Indigo," the uplifting and touching poem about his daughters, many readers will find their own feelings and experiences reflected in this lyrical and passionate collection.
Synopsis
With the publication of Finding Fish, his memoir of a childhood spent in foster homes in and around Cleveland, Antwone Fisher shared with the world his story of perseverance, determination, and courage. And he also showed that within him beat the heart of an artist — a major factor in his resilience and recovery.
Now with Who Will Cry for the Little Boy?, his first collection of poetry, Antwone Fisher reveals the inner truths that took him from a tumultuous childhood to the man he is today. The powerful poems presented here range from impressions and expressions of Antwone's years growing up to the love that he has gained from the family he made for himself as an adult.
From the title poem — which is featured prominently in the movie Antwone Fisher — a plaintive, haunting tribute to a childhood lost to abuse and neglect, to "Azure Indigo," the uplifting and touching poem about his daughters, many readers will find their own feelings and experiences reflected in this lyrical and passionate collection.
Ed Sullivan - VOYA
With a best-selling memoir and a major motion picture recently released about his life, Fisher might not quite be a household name, but he definitely has wide name recognition. That is probably why this slim and unremarkable collection of poetry was published in the first place. Fisher discusses in his foreword a lecture by Maya Angelou in which she talks about the healing power of poetry. Fisher, who suffered terribly in his childhood and youth, found poetry to be a way of coping with his painful past and celebrating his now happy life. He describes his poems as "my way of speaking to myself." If the poems focused more on Fisher's terrible past and triumph over it, this book would make for far more compelling reading. The first poem, "Who Will Cry for the Little Boy?" is the best of the bunch. Raw, honest, and emotional, this work confronts the hurts and pains of Fisher's childhood. In "The Angel's Gift," Fisher poignantly resigns himself to the harsh hand he was dealt in his youth. "Antwone" is a charming, deprecating self-portrait. The rest of the poems, however, are love verses that are competent but hardly distinguished. They are the pleasant musings of a father expressing affection for his daughters, passionate devotion to his wife, and remembrances of past loves that will not likely have much to say to teens or readers of any age. VOYA CODES: 2Q 2P S A/YA (Better editing or work by the author might have warranted a 3Q; For the YA with a special interest in the subject; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12; Adult and Young Adult). 2003, Morrow, 64p,
Editorials
VOYA
With a best-selling memoir and a major motion picture recently released about his life, Fisher might not quite be a household name, but he definitely has wide name recognition. That is probably why this slim and unremarkable collection of poetry was published in the first place. Fisher discusses in his foreword a lecture by Maya Angelou in which she talks about the healing power of poetry. Fisher, who suffered terribly in his childhood and youth, found poetry to be a way of coping with his painful past and celebrating his now happy life. He describes his poems as "my way of speaking to myself." If the poems focused more on Fisher's terrible past and triumph over it, this book would make for far more compelling reading. The first poem, "Who Will Cry for the Little Boy?" is the best of the bunch. Raw, honest, and emotional, this work confronts the hurts and pains of Fisher's childhood. In "The Angel's Gift," Fisher poignantly resigns himself to the harsh hand he was dealt in his youth. "Antwone" is a charming, deprecating self-portrait. The rest of the poems, however, are love verses that are competent but hardly distinguished. They are the pleasant musings of a father expressing affection for his daughters, passionate devotion to his wife, and remembrances of past loves that will not likely have much to say to teens or readers of any age. VOYA CODES: 2Q 2P S A/YA (Better editing or work by the author might have warranted a 3Q; For the YA with a special interest in the subject; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12; Adult and Young Adult). 2003, Morrow, 64p,— Ed Sullivan