Thief in the Interior
Thief in the Interior by Phillip B. Williams, published by Alice James Books in 2016, is a collection of poetry that delves into complex themes surrounding desire, addiction, and societal violence. With 82 pages, this edition presents a nuanced exploration of the intersections of race, sexuality, and urban life, offering readers a profound look at the human experience through the lens of grief and loss.
In this debut collection, Williams employs formal poetry to engage with the harsh realities of racism and homophobia, creating a dialogue that resonates with contemporary issues. The poems feature multiple voices that reflect on the duality of harm and joy, inviting readers to confront the vulnerabilities inherent in love and identity. Through vivid imagery and emotional depth, Thief in the Interior captures the essence of navigating a world fraught with danger while seeking connection and understanding.
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Recipient of a 2017 Whiting Award for Poetry 2017 Kate Tufts Discovery Award Winner Nominated for the 2017 NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Literary Work in Poetry 2016 INDIES Book of the Year Award Finalist 2017 Publishing Triangle’s Thom Gunn Award Finalist 2017 Lambda Literary Awards Winner 2017 Eric Hoffer Book Award Finalist 2017 Nominee for 2017 Hurston/Wright Legacy Award for Poetry Shortlisted for Chicago Review of Books Award in Poetry One of BET’s “12 Must-Read Books for 2016” “This gorgeous debut is a ‘debut’ in chronology only. . . . Need is everywhere–in the unforgiving images, in lines so delicate they seem to break apart in the hands, and in the reader who will enter these poems and never want to leave.”–Adrian Matejka Phillip B. Williams investigates the dangers of desire, balancing narratives of addiction, murders, and hate crimes with passionate, uncompromising depth. Formal poems entrenched in urban landscapes crack open dialogues of racism and homophobia rampant in our culture. Multitudinous voices explore one’s ability to harm and be harmed, which uniquely juxtaposes the capacity to revel in both experiences. “Epithalamium”: A kiss. Train ride home from a late dinner, City Hall and document signing. Wasn’t cold but we cuddled in an empty car, legal. Last month a couple of guys left a gay bar and were beaten with poles on the way to their car. No one called them faggot so no hate crime’s documented. A beat down is what some pray for, a pulse left to count. We knew we weren’t protected. We knew our rings were party favors, gold to steal the shine from. We couldn’t protect us, knew the law wouldn’t know how. Still, his beard across my brow, the burn of his cologne. When the train stopped, the people came on.
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