The Book, Cat, & Cat Book Lovers Almanac

of historical trivia regarding books, cats, and other animals. Actually this blog has evolved so that it is described better as a blog about cats in history and culture. And we take as a theme the advice of Aldous Huxley: If you want to be a writer, get some cats. Don't forget to see the archived articles linked at the bottom of the page.

June 7, 2013

June 7,

In A Life of Gwendolyn Brooks (1990), by George E. Kent, we learn that the 1950 winner of the Pulitzer Prize for poetry was born in Topeka, Kansas, but soon and the rest of her life lived on the Chicago Southside. Gwendolyn Brooks (June 7, 1917 to December 3, 2000) wrote, and we excerpt poems appearing first in The bean eaters  (1960) and then an excerpt from a poem in from Blacks, (1987):

"A Sunset of the City"

Already I am no longer looked at with lechery or love.
My daughters and sons have put me away with marbles and dolls,
Are gone from the house.
My husband and lovers are pleasant or somewhat polite
And night is night.

and later, "patent leather" 

That cool chick down on Calumet
Has got herself a brand new cat,
With pretty patent-leather hair.
And he is man enough for her.


Gwendolyn Brooks wrote: I've stayed in the front yard all my life.  Seems empty without her. 

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