Cornelius Eady: 3 Unpublished Poems

Cornelius Eady. Photo: © The Poetry Foundation

This month Sampsonia Way asked Cornelius Eady, poet and co-founder of Cave Canem, if he had some unpublished poems he could share. In response Eady–the author of eight books of poetry, and a finalist for the National Book Award–sent us six poems.

Below Sampsonia Way presents three of the six works: “‘I Believe I’ll Make A Change’: A Duet Between Leroy Carr and Scrapper Blackwell” ; “Father Frances at Mt. St. Alphonus” ; and “Eisa Davis Sings.”

With the first poem Eady lets us sit in on a 1930s recording session featuring two blues greats. He then takes us to two private moments from Cave Canem’s week-long retreat in Esopus, New York. Like Eady’s other pieces, the charming and colloquial voice in these poems pulls the reader into the dreamy heart of music and memory, and affords a rare glimpse at the things inside that drive us.

Look for the other poems (and a song) Eady sent Sampsonia Way in the coming month.

Watch Cornelius Eady read at Cave Canem 2011.