DELPHINIUM GOSPEL

In his debut poetry collection, Scott explores the intersections of race, class, gender, and sexuality.

The collection is divided into three parts covering distinct themes. In “Moonrise: Womb of Culture,” Scott elegizes his older brother, a victim of a mass shooting. He reflects on the inevitability of the loss of young Black lives: “In America, it’s sad, but practical / to plan for a Black child’s funeral,” the speaker explains in “Carrying Coffins.” Death and tragedy pervade this segment, which also explores Scott’s identity as a Black queer man. In “Midnight: Paradise of Self,” the author examines the intersection of his race, sexuality, and socioeconomic status, grappling with his position as a queer, working-class, educated Black man. Finally, in “Moonset: Resurrecting Social Worlds,” Scott looks outward at society, addressing pervasive racism and objectification in poems like “A Lesson Henrietta Lacks Teaches Anyone Willing to Learn” and “Churches of Hemlock.” Notably, this is also the section in which the author finds connection, ending the entire collection depicting a party of queer people in “Seven People Dancing.” Though his work is steeped in sometimes painful reality, Scott creates an alternate world in which he can explore intense subject matter; readers are swept into this sacred space to commune with the poet and understand his experiences. References to the delphinium plant simultaneously signify the dark corners Scott explores and the level of passion evident in his work. Allusions to Greek mythology align his work with classic literature while subverting readers’ expectations of neo-classical poetry and the “ivory tower” air of the form. While his references can sometimes seem inaccessible to a general audience, his verses create an emotional journey that all poetry readers can enjoy. Experiments with form allow for visual interpretations of each poem, enhancing the reader’s experience.

A riveting and esoteric collection of poems that creates space for coping with grief, violence, racism, and loneliness.