LITERATURE

Dark Days: Fugitive Essays

by Roger Reeves
Graywolf. Aug. 2023. 232p. ISBN 9781644452417. $26. LIT
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Through these essays, poet Reeves (King Me; Best Barbarian) extends passion and profound vulnerability surrounding his experiences as a Black man and father. He examines the world through touching moments of love and clarity between a father and daughter facing the uncertainty and terror of war. He revisits the segregation of the past and how history teaches segregation as a long-ago reality, even though it was still happening as recently as 30 years ago. These essays also ask readers to question how peace is experienced: is peace only obtainable on a massive scale, or can it be discovered in the pleasure of reading, in joyful songs of praise, or even in absolute silence?
VERDICT Readers interested in Black history, community traditions, self-awareness, and the works of Toni Morrison will enjoy Reeves’s first essay collection, as will those searching for a unique voice to help make sense of today’s chaotic world.
Reviewed by Shannon Meyer , Jun 01, 2023
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