To Hang My Soul's Garments Outside to Dry
Great poets can be found anywhere. In bookstores, on stages, and in our own backyards.
Witness Annette Hope Billings, who grew up and lives in Topeka, Kansas. Population 127,000, Topeka is the capital of Kansas. The town is known as being the site of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court case, the home of the queer-bashing Westboro Baptist Church, and the location of a Frito-Lay chip factory, among many other mundane things.
Topeka also is the birthplace of one of the most significant poets of the modern era, Gwendolyn Brooks, and it has a vibrant poetry scene.
Among the most well-known and beloved poets of Topeka is Annette—a dear friend who recently became much more than a friend to me. Yes, I’m biased, but you should also know that I loved Annette’s poetry long before I loved her.
Read the rest of the article on Diane Silver's blog including full texts of some of Annette's work.
Also, listen to Annette's poem, "What you allow lingers" here on Facebook.
