Book Review: 'Catalog Of Unabashed Gratu,' Ross Gay : NPR

Contents:

• POETRY REVIEW: AK AFFEREZ ON CATALOG OF UNABASHED GRATU BY ROSS GAY
• ROSS GAY’S UNFOLDG UNRSTANDG OF UNABASHED GRATU
• CATALOG OF UNABASHED GRATUROSS GAYFEATURGBON IVERFEB. 11, 20211 VIEWER2 CONTRIBUTORSCATALOG OF UNABASHED GRATU LYRICSFRIENDS, WILL YOU BEAR WH ME TODAY,FOR I HAVE AWAKENEDOM A DREAM WHICH A ROBMA WH S SHABBY WGS A KD OF VEILBEHD WHICH SHIMMIED AND STOMPED SOMETHG OM THE SOUTHOF SPA, S BREAST AFLARE,LOOKG ME AD THE EYEOM THE BRANCH THAT GREW TO MY WDOW,OCHIE-OG MY CH,THE BIRD SHUFFLG S LTLE TALONS LEFT, THEN RIGHT,WHILE THE LEAV BRISTLEDAGAST THE PLASTER WALL, TWO OF THEM DRIFTGONTO MY BLANKET WHILE THE BIRDOPENED AND CLOSED S WGS LIKE A MATADIVG UP ON MURR,JUTTG S BEAK, TURNG A CIRCLE,AND FLASHG, AGA,THE DDY BOMBAST OF S BREASTBY WHICH I KNEW UPON WAKG WAS TELLG ME NO UNCERTA TERMSTO BELLOW FORTH THE TUBAS AND SOAPHON,THE WHOLE STY BRASS BAND OF GRATUNOT QUE DORMANT MY BELLY— SAID SO A HUMAN VOICE,“BELLOW FORTH”—AND WHO AMONG ULD IGNORE SUCH ODDAND PRECISE UNSEL?HEAR YE! HEAR YE! I AM HERETO HOLLER THAT I HAVE HLED TONS—BY WHICH I DON’T MEAN LOTS,I MEAN TONS — OF WSHAND STOOD ANKLE EP SWAL OF MAGGOTSSWIRLG THE SPENT BEER GRASTHE BREWERY MAN WAS GOOD ENOUGH TO DUMP OFFHOLDG HIS NOSE, FOR THEY SMELL VERY BAD,BUT MAKE THE POST WRHE GIDDY AND LICK S LIPS,TWIRLG DUNG WH MY PCHFORKAGA AND AGAWH HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF OTHER PEOPLE,WE DREAMT AN ORCHARD THIS WAY,FURROWG OUR BROWS,AND HLG OUR WHEELBARROWS,AND SWEATG THROUGH OUR SHIRTS,AND LEAD THAN A YEAR LATER THERE WAS A PARTYAT WHICH TRE WERE SUNK TO THE WELL-FED EARTH,ONE OF WHICH, A LIBERTY APPLE, AFTER BEG WATERED WAS TAMPED BY A BABY BAREFOOTWH A BOW HANGG HER HAIRBG HER LIP HER JOYO WORKAND IENDS THIS IS THE REALT PLACE I KNOW, MAK ME SQUIRM LIKE A WORM I AM SO GRATEFUL,YOU ULD RI YOUR BIKE THEREOR ROLLER SKATE OR TCH THE BTHERE IS A FENCE AND A GATE TWISTED BY HAND,THERE IS A FIG TREE TALLER THAN YOU INDIANA, WILL MAKE YOU GASP.IT MIGHT MAKE YOU WANT TO STAY ALIVE EVEN, THANK YOU;AND THANK YOUFOR NOT TAKG MY PAL WHEN THE ENGEOF HIS MD DRAGGED HIMTO SWIG FISTFULS OF XANAX AND A BOTTLE OR TWO OF BOOZE,AND THANK YOU FOR TAKG MY FATHERA FEW YEARS AFTER HIS OWN FATHER WENT DOWN THANK YOUMERCY, MERCY, THANK YOUFOR NOT SMOKG METH WH YOUR MOTHEROH THANK YOU THANK YOUFOR LEAVG AND FOR G BACK,AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT SI MY IENDS’LOVE BURSTS LIKE A THRONG OF ROADSI GOLNRODGLEAMG TO THE WORLD,LIKELY HLG A SHOVEL WH HERLIKE ONE NAMED ARALEE OUGHT,WH HANDS BIG AS A HORSE’S,AND WHO, LIKE ONE NAMED ARALEE OUGHT,WILL LGH TIME TO TIME TIL THE JUICENS OM HER NOSE; OHTHANK YOUFOR THE WAY A SMALL THG’S WAIL MAKTHE K OR WHAT ONCE WAS K GATHER TO HORSHUCKLE-BUCKLG ACROSS A FIELD;AND THANK YOU, IENDS, WHEN LAST SPRGTHE HYACTH BELLS RANGAND THE CROC FLNTEDTHEIR UPTURNED SKIRTS, AND A QUIET ROVEDTHE BEEHIVE WHICH WHEN I ENTEREDWERE SNUGGED TWO OR THREE ADFIST-SIZED CLUTCH OF BE BETWEEN THE AM,ALMOST CLGG TO ONE ANOTHER,THIS ONE’S TY HEAD PHEDTO ANOTHER’S TY WG,ONE’S FORELEGS RTG ON ANOTHER’S FACE,THE TRANSLUCENT PAPER OF THEIR WGS FLUTTERGBENEATH MY BREATH AND WHENA FEW DROPPED TO THE AM BENEATH:HONEY; AND AFTER FALLG DOWN TO CRY,EVERYTHG’S GLACIAL SHE.AND THANK YOU, TOO. AND THANKSFOR THE RDUROY UCH I HAVE PUT YOU ON.PUT YOUR FEET UP. HERE’S A LIGHT BLANKET,A PILLOW, AR ONE,FOR I THK THIS IS GOG TO BE LONG.I N’T STOPMY GRATU, WHICH CLUS, AR REAR,YOU, FOR STAYG HERE WH ME,FOR MOVG YOUR LIPS JT SO AS I SPEAK.HERE IS A CUP OF TEA. I HAVE SPOONED HONEY TO .AND THANK YOU THE TY BEE’S SHADOWPESG THE WORDS AS I WRE THEM.AND THE WAY MY LOVE TALKS QUIETLYWHEN THE HIVE,SO QUIETLY, FACT, YOU NNOT HEAR HERBUT ONLY NOTICE BARELY HER LIPS MOVG NVERSATN. THANK YOU WHAT DO NOT SRE HER ME, BUT MAK HER REACH MY WAY. THANK YOU THE LOVHE IS WHICH HURTS SOMETIM. AND THE TIMHE MISREMEMBERED ELEPHANTS ONE OF MY POEMS WHICH, OH, HERETHEY E, GARLAND WH MORNG GLORY AND WISTERIABLOOMS, TROMBON ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE RIVER.THANK YOU THE QUIET WHICH THE RIVER BENDS AROUND THE ELEPHANT’SSOLEMN TNK, POLISHG STON, FLOATGON S GENTLE BACKTHE FLOCK OF GEE FLYG OVERHEAD.AND TO THE QUICK AND GENTLE FLOCKGOF MEN TO THE OLD LADY FALLG DOWNON THE RNER OF FAIRMOUNT AND 18TH, HOLDG PATIENTLYWH THE SOFTT PARTS OF THEIR HANDSHER NE AND PURPLE HAT,GATHERG FOR HER THE NTENTS OF HER PURSEAND TOUCHG HER SHOULR AND ELBOW;THANK YOU THE CKEYED URTON WHICH A HALF-URT 3 ON 3 WE OLDHEADSMA OF SOME NNY-NOSED KIDSA SHAMBL, AND THE 61-YEAR-OLDAFTER FLIPPG A REVERSE LAY-UP OFF A BACK DOOR CUTOM MY NO-LOOK PASS TO SEAL THE GAMERIPPED OFF HIS SHIRT AND THREW PUNCH AT THE GODSAND HOLLERED AT THE KIDS TO ADMIRE THE PACEMAKER’S SRGRNG ACROSS HIS CHT; THANK YOUTHE GLAD ACRDN’S WHEEZE THE CHT; THANK YOU THE BAGPIP.THANK YOU TO THE WOMAN BAREFOOT A GDY DRSFOR STOPPG HER R THE MIDDLE OF THE ROADAND THE TRACTOR TRAILER BEHD HER, AND THE VAN BEHD ,WHISKG A TURTLE OFF THE ROAD.THANK YOU GOD OF GDY.THANK YOU PAISLEY PANTI.THANK YOU THE AN UP MY DRS.THANK YOU THE SHEER DRS YOU WORE KNEELG MY DREAMAT THE CREEK’S EDGE AND THE LIGHTSWIMMG THROUGH . THE KOI KISSGHALOS TO THE GLASSY AIR.THE ROOM MY MD WH THE BLDS DRAWNWHERE WE NEARLY JURE EACH OTHERCRAWLG TO THE SHAWL OF THE OTHER’S BODY.THANK YOU FOR SAYG PLA:WE FUCK EACH OTHER DUMB.AND YOU, AGA, YOU, FOR THE TE KDNS HAS BEEN FOR YOU TO REMA AWAKEWH ME LIKE THIS, NODDG TIME TO TIMEAND MAKG THAT NOISE WHICH I TAKE TO MEANY, OR, I UNRSTAND, OR, PLEASE GO ONBUT NOT TOO LONG, OR, WHY ARE YOU SPTGSO MUCH, OR, EASY TIGERHANDS TO YOURSELF. I AM EXCABLE.I AM SORRY. I AM GRATEFUL.I JT WANT TO BE IENDS NOW, FOREVER.TAKE THIS BOWL OF BLACKBERRI OM THE GARN.THE SUN HAS MA THEM WARM.I PICKED THEM JT FOR YOU. I PROMISEI WILL STAY ON MY SI OF THE UCH.AND THANK YOU THE BAGGIE OF DREADLOCKS I FOUND A DRAWERWHILE WASHG AND FOLDG THE CLOTH OF OUR MURRED IEND;THE PHOTO WHICH HIS ARM SLUNGAROUND THE SIGN TO “THE TRAIL OF SILENC”; THANK YOUTHE WAY BEFORE HE DIED HE HELDHIS HANDS OPEN TO ; FOR G BACK A WAFT OF CENSE OR THE SHAPE OF A BOY ANOTHER CY LOOKGOM BETWEEN HIS MOTHER’S LEGS,OR DISAPPEARG TO THE STACKS AFTER BSHG BY;FOR MOSEYG BACK DREAMS WHERE,SEEG LOST AND SREDHE PUT HIS HAND ON OUR SHOULRSAND POTED TO THE TEMPLE ACROSS TOWN;AND THANK YOU TO THE MAN ALL NIGHT LONGHOSG A MIST ON HIS EARLY-BLOOMEDPEACH TREE SO THAT THE HARD OSTNOT WASTE THE CROP, THE ICE HIS BEARD AND THE GHOSTSLIFTG OM HIM WHEN THE WARMG SUNTOLD HIM SLEEP NOW; THANK YOUTHE ANCTOR WHO LOVED YOUBEFORE SHE KNEW YOUBY SMUGGLG SEEDS TO HER BRAID FOR THE LONGJOURNEY, WHO LOVED YOUBEFORE HE KNEW YOU BY PUTTGA WALNUT TREE THE GROUND, WHO LOVED YOUBEFORE SHE KNEW YOU BY NOT SLGHTERGTHE LAND; THANK YOUWHO DID NOT BULLDOZE THE ANCIENT GROVEOF DAT AND OLIV,WHO SAILED HIS KEYS TO THE OCEANAND WALKED SOFTLY HOME; WHO DID NOT FIRE, WHO DID NOTPLUNGE THE HEAD TO THE TOILET, WHO SAID STOP,DON’T DO THAT; WHO LIFTED SOME BROKENSOMEONE UP; WHO VOLUNTEEREDTHE WAY A PLANT BIRTHED OF THE REEDG PLANTIS LLED A VOLUNTEER, LIKE THE PLUM TREETHAT MARCHED BI THE RAISED BED MY GARN, LIKE THE AGULA THAT MARCHEDSELF BETWEEN THE BLUEBERRI,NARY A BAYO, NARY AN ARMY, NARY A NATN,WHICH AGE OF THE WORD VOLUNTEERFAIAR TO GARNERS THE WI WORLDMA MY PAL SHOUT “OH!” AND DANCEAND PLUNGE HIS KNUCKLTO THE LH SOIL BEFORE GOBBLG TWO STRAWBERRIAND DIGGG A SONG OM HIS GUARMA OF WOOD OM A TREE SOMEONE MAYBE PLANTED, THANK YOU;THANK YOU ZNIA, AND GOOSEBERRY, DBECKIAAND PAWPAW, ASHMEAD’S KERNEL, CKSBAND SRLET NNER, FEVERFEW AND LEMONBALM;THANK YOU KNBONE AND SWEETGRASS AND SUNCHOKEAND FALSE DIGO WHOSE PETALS STAMMERED APARTBY BUMBLEBE GOOD LORD PLEASE GIVE ME A MUTE...AND MOONGLOW AND TK AND CROOKNECKAND PATED TONGUE AND SEEDPOD AND JOHNNY JUMP-UP;THANK YOU WHAT RACKETS GLADWHAT GLADRACKETS ;AND THANK YOU, TOO, THIS KNUCKLEHEAD HEART, THIS PELIN HEART,THIS GAP-TOOTHED HEART FLGG OPEN S GDY MAWTO THE SKY, OH CLUMSY, OH BUMBLEFUCKED,OH GIDDY, OH DUMBSTCK,OH RICKSHAW, OH GOAT TWISTGS HEAD AT ME OM MY PEACH TREE’S HIGHT BRANCH,BALANCED IMPOSSIBLY GOBBLG THE LAST U,S TONGUE WORKG LIKE AN ENGE,A LONE SWEET DROP TUMBLG BY SOME MIRACLETO MY MOUTH LIKE THE SMELL OF SOMEONE I’VE LOVED;HEART LIKE AN ELEPHANT SCREAMGAT THE BON OF S AD;HEART LIKE THE LADY ON THE BDRSED HEAD TO TOE GOLD, THE SUNSHIVERG HER SHY BOOTS, SGGERYKAH BADU TO HERSELFLEANG HER HEAD AGAST THE WDOW;AND THANK YOU TO THE WAY MY FATHER ONE TIME ME BACK A DREAMBY PLUCKG THE TWO BL BENEATH MY CHLIKE A BASS FIDDLE’S STRGSAND PLAYED ME UNTIL I WOKE SGG,NO KIDDG, I WAS SGG AND SG,THANK YOU, THANK YOU,STUMBLG TO THE GARN WHERETHE JUNEBERRY’S FLOWERS HAD BURST OPENLIKE THE BELLS OF FRENCH HORNS, THE LILYMY MOTHER AND I PLANTED OOZED TO THE AIR,THE BAZILLN ANTS LABORED THEIR EARTHEN WORKSHOPSBELOW, THE LLARD GREENS WAVED THE WDLIKE THE SAILS OF SHIPS, AND THE WASPSSWAM THE MT BLOOM’S VIS SWILL;AND YOU, AGA YOU, FOR HANGG TIGHT, AR IEND.I KNOW I N BE LONG-WD SOMETIM.I WANT SO BADLY TO B THE SPONGE OF GRATUOVER EVERY LAST THG, CLUDG YOU, WHICH, Y, 'S AWKWARD,THE SUDS YOUR EAR AND ARMP, THE LTLE SPARKLG GEMSSLIPPG TO YOUR EYE. SOON WILL BE OVER,WHICH IS PRECISELY WHAT THE CHILD MY DREAM SAID,HOLDG MY HAND, POTG AT THE ROILG SEA AND THE SKYHURTLG OUR WAY LIKE SO MANY BUFFALO,WHO SAID ’S MUCH WORSE THAN WE THK,AND SOONER; TO WHOM I SAIDNO DUH CHILD MY DREAMS, WHAT DO YOU THKTHIS SGG AND SHUDRG IS,WHAT THIS SCREAMG AND REACHG AND DANCGAND CRYG IS, OTHER THAN LOVGWHAT EVERY SEND GO AWAY?GOODBYE, I MEAN TO SAY.AND THANK YOU. EVERY DAY.EMBEDCANCELHOW TO FORMAT LYRICS:TYPE OUT ALL LYRICS, EVEN REPEATG SONG PARTS LIKE THE CHOSLYRICS SHOULD BE BROKEN DOWN TO DIVIDUAL LUSE SECTN HEARS ABOVE DIFFERENT SONG PARTS LIKE [VERSE], [CHOS], ETC.USE ALICS (<I>LYRIC</I>) AND BOLD (<B>LYRIC</B>) TO DISTGUISH BETWEEN DIFFERENT VOLISTS THE SAME SONG PARTIF YOU DON’T UNRSTAND A LYRIC, E [?]TO LEARN MORE, CHECK OUT OUR TRANSCRIPTN GUI OR VIS OUR TRANSCRIBERS FOMABOUTHAVE THE SI SOP ON THIS SONG?SIGN UP AND DROP SOME KNOWLEDGESTART THE SONG BASK A QUTN ABOUT THIS SONGASK A QUTN *‌WHEN DID ROSS GAY RELEASE “CATALOG OF UNABASHED GRATU”?WHO WROTE “CATALOG OF UNABASHED GRATU” BY ROSS GAY?CREDSFEATURGBON IVERWRTEN BYJT VERNON & ROSS GAYRELEASE DATEFEBARY 11, 2021TAGSNON-MICEXPAND COMMENTSADD A MENTSIGN UP AND DROP KNOWLEDGE ?GENI IS THE ULTIMATE SOURCE OF MIC KNOWLEDGE, CREATED BY SCHOLARS LIKE YOU WHO SHARE FACTS AND SIGHT ABOUT THE SONGS AND ARTISTS THEY LOVE.SIGN UPGENI IS THE WORLD’S BIGGT LLECTN OF SONG LYRICS AND MIL KNOWLEDGE
• BOOK REVIEW: 'CATALOG OF UNABASHED GRATU,' ROSS GAY

POETRY REVIEW: AK AFFEREZ ON CATALOG OF UNABASHED GRATU BY ROSS GAY

Ferocly earnt and jubilant, Ross Gay’s third llectn is not simply an o to fdg gratu for the thgs we ually take for granted: is a triumphant claratn of love for the world we live . A fervent garner himself, Gay is timately acquated wh the ways life and ath work together, both wh the garn and the human body. In a sense, the poems work as “the factory / where loss mak all thgs / betiful grow”: “burial, ” Gay reunts how he placed his father’s ash over the roots of the plum tree he was plantg: at the time of harvt, his father’s spir seemed to have imbued the u self; om ash to branch to plum, the paternal prence is magnified.

The bter, tragic irony of life do not pe the poet though, as when he reunts his iendship wh Don, “a 53-year-old gay black man” who survived his youth but was eventually murred. Beyond the Christian associatns to the fig tree, Gay foc on the powerful image of people pickg and eatg the figs together, relishg the sense of belongg that has spontaneoly emerged.

ROSS GAY’S UNFOLDG UNRSTANDG OF UNABASHED GRATU

Catalog of Unabashed Gratu, by Ross Gay. Through 24 lyric poems, Ross Gay’s Catalog of Unabashed Gratu offers a lumo exploratn of ath, life, and their many tis.

CATALOG OF UNABASHED GRATUROSS GAYFEATURGBON IVERFEB. 11, 20211 VIEWER2 CONTRIBUTORSCATALOG OF UNABASHED GRATU LYRICSFRIENDS, WILL YOU BEAR WH ME TODAY,FOR I HAVE AWAKENEDOM A DREAM WHICH A ROBMA WH S SHABBY WGS A KD OF VEILBEHD WHICH SHIMMIED AND STOMPED SOMETHG OM THE SOUTHOF SPA, S BREAST AFLARE,LOOKG ME AD THE EYEOM THE BRANCH THAT GREW TO MY WDOW,OCHIE-OG MY CH,THE BIRD SHUFFLG S LTLE TALONS LEFT, THEN RIGHT,WHILE THE LEAV BRISTLEDAGAST THE PLASTER WALL, TWO OF THEM DRIFTGONTO MY BLANKET WHILE THE BIRDOPENED AND CLOSED S WGS LIKE A MATADIVG UP ON MURR,JUTTG S BEAK, TURNG A CIRCLE,AND FLASHG, AGA,THE DDY BOMBAST OF S BREASTBY WHICH I KNEW UPON WAKG WAS TELLG ME NO UNCERTA TERMSTO BELLOW FORTH THE TUBAS AND SOAPHON,THE WHOLE STY BRASS BAND OF GRATUNOT QUE DORMANT MY BELLY— SAID SO A HUMAN VOICE,“BELLOW FORTH”—AND WHO AMONG ULD IGNORE SUCH ODDAND PRECISE UNSEL?HEAR YE! HEAR YE! I AM HERETO HOLLER THAT I HAVE HLED TONS—BY WHICH I DON’T MEAN LOTS,I MEAN TONS — OF WSHAND STOOD ANKLE EP SWAL OF MAGGOTSSWIRLG THE SPENT BEER GRASTHE BREWERY MAN WAS GOOD ENOUGH TO DUMP OFFHOLDG HIS NOSE, FOR THEY SMELL VERY BAD,BUT MAKE THE POST WRHE GIDDY AND LICK S LIPS,TWIRLG DUNG WH MY PCHFORKAGA AND AGAWH HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF OTHER PEOPLE,WE DREAMT AN ORCHARD THIS WAY,FURROWG OUR BROWS,AND HLG OUR WHEELBARROWS,AND SWEATG THROUGH OUR SHIRTS,AND LEAD THAN A YEAR LATER THERE WAS A PARTYAT WHICH TRE WERE SUNK TO THE WELL-FED EARTH,ONE OF WHICH, A LIBERTY APPLE, AFTER BEG WATERED WAS TAMPED BY A BABY BAREFOOTWH A BOW HANGG HER HAIRBG HER LIP HER JOYO WORKAND IENDS THIS IS THE REALT PLACE I KNOW, MAK ME SQUIRM LIKE A WORM I AM SO GRATEFUL,YOU ULD RI YOUR BIKE THEREOR ROLLER SKATE OR TCH THE BTHERE IS A FENCE AND A GATE TWISTED BY HAND,THERE IS A FIG TREE TALLER THAN YOU INDIANA, WILL MAKE YOU GASP.IT MIGHT MAKE YOU WANT TO STAY ALIVE EVEN, THANK YOU;AND THANK YOUFOR NOT TAKG MY PAL WHEN THE ENGEOF HIS MD DRAGGED HIMTO SWIG FISTFULS OF XANAX AND A BOTTLE OR TWO OF BOOZE,AND THANK YOU FOR TAKG MY FATHERA FEW YEARS AFTER HIS OWN FATHER WENT DOWN THANK YOUMERCY, MERCY, THANK YOUFOR NOT SMOKG METH WH YOUR MOTHEROH THANK YOU THANK YOUFOR LEAVG AND FOR G BACK,AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT SI MY IENDS’LOVE BURSTS LIKE A THRONG OF ROADSI GOLNRODGLEAMG TO THE WORLD,LIKELY HLG A SHOVEL WH HERLIKE ONE NAMED ARALEE OUGHT,WH HANDS BIG AS A HORSE’S,AND WHO, LIKE ONE NAMED ARALEE OUGHT,WILL LGH TIME TO TIME TIL THE JUICENS OM HER NOSE; OHTHANK YOUFOR THE WAY A SMALL THG’S WAIL MAKTHE K OR WHAT ONCE WAS K GATHER TO HORSHUCKLE-BUCKLG ACROSS A FIELD;AND THANK YOU, IENDS, WHEN LAST SPRGTHE HYACTH BELLS RANGAND THE CROC FLNTEDTHEIR UPTURNED SKIRTS, AND A QUIET ROVEDTHE BEEHIVE WHICH WHEN I ENTEREDWERE SNUGGED TWO OR THREE ADFIST-SIZED CLUTCH OF BE BETWEEN THE AM,ALMOST CLGG TO ONE ANOTHER,THIS ONE’S TY HEAD PHEDTO ANOTHER’S TY WG,ONE’S FORELEGS RTG ON ANOTHER’S FACE,THE TRANSLUCENT PAPER OF THEIR WGS FLUTTERGBENEATH MY BREATH AND WHENA FEW DROPPED TO THE AM BENEATH:HONEY; AND AFTER FALLG DOWN TO CRY,EVERYTHG’S GLACIAL SHE.AND THANK YOU, TOO. AND THANKSFOR THE RDUROY UCH I HAVE PUT YOU ON.PUT YOUR FEET UP. HERE’S A LIGHT BLANKET,A PILLOW, AR ONE,FOR I THK THIS IS GOG TO BE LONG.I N’T STOPMY GRATU, WHICH CLUS, AR REAR,YOU, FOR STAYG HERE WH ME,FOR MOVG YOUR LIPS JT SO AS I SPEAK.HERE IS A CUP OF TEA. I HAVE SPOONED HONEY TO .AND THANK YOU THE TY BEE’S SHADOWPESG THE WORDS AS I WRE THEM.AND THE WAY MY LOVE TALKS QUIETLYWHEN THE HIVE,SO QUIETLY, FACT, YOU NNOT HEAR HERBUT ONLY NOTICE BARELY HER LIPS MOVG NVERSATN. THANK YOU WHAT DO NOT SRE HER ME, BUT MAK HER REACH MY WAY. THANK YOU THE LOVHE IS WHICH HURTS SOMETIM. AND THE TIMHE MISREMEMBERED ELEPHANTS ONE OF MY POEMS WHICH, OH, HERETHEY E, GARLAND WH MORNG GLORY AND WISTERIABLOOMS, TROMBON ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE RIVER.THANK YOU THE QUIET WHICH THE RIVER BENDS AROUND THE ELEPHANT’SSOLEMN TNK, POLISHG STON, FLOATGON S GENTLE BACKTHE FLOCK OF GEE FLYG OVERHEAD.AND TO THE QUICK AND GENTLE FLOCKGOF MEN TO THE OLD LADY FALLG DOWNON THE RNER OF FAIRMOUNT AND 18TH, HOLDG PATIENTLYWH THE SOFTT PARTS OF THEIR HANDSHER NE AND PURPLE HAT,GATHERG FOR HER THE NTENTS OF HER PURSEAND TOUCHG HER SHOULR AND ELBOW;THANK YOU THE CKEYED URTON WHICH A HALF-URT 3 ON 3 WE OLDHEADSMA OF SOME NNY-NOSED KIDSA SHAMBL, AND THE 61-YEAR-OLDAFTER FLIPPG A REVERSE LAY-UP OFF A BACK DOOR CUTOM MY NO-LOOK PASS TO SEAL THE GAMERIPPED OFF HIS SHIRT AND THREW PUNCH AT THE GODSAND HOLLERED AT THE KIDS TO ADMIRE THE PACEMAKER’S SRGRNG ACROSS HIS CHT; THANK YOUTHE GLAD ACRDN’S WHEEZE THE CHT; THANK YOU THE BAGPIP.THANK YOU TO THE WOMAN BAREFOOT A GDY DRSFOR STOPPG HER R THE MIDDLE OF THE ROADAND THE TRACTOR TRAILER BEHD HER, AND THE VAN BEHD ,WHISKG A TURTLE OFF THE ROAD.THANK YOU GOD OF GDY.THANK YOU PAISLEY PANTI.THANK YOU THE AN UP MY DRS.THANK YOU THE SHEER DRS YOU WORE KNEELG MY DREAMAT THE CREEK’S EDGE AND THE LIGHTSWIMMG THROUGH . THE KOI KISSGHALOS TO THE GLASSY AIR.THE ROOM MY MD WH THE BLDS DRAWNWHERE WE NEARLY JURE EACH OTHERCRAWLG TO THE SHAWL OF THE OTHER’S BODY.THANK YOU FOR SAYG PLA:WE FUCK EACH OTHER DUMB.AND YOU, AGA, YOU, FOR THE TE KDNS HAS BEEN FOR YOU TO REMA AWAKEWH ME LIKE THIS, NODDG TIME TO TIMEAND MAKG THAT NOISE WHICH I TAKE TO MEANY, OR, I UNRSTAND, OR, PLEASE GO ONBUT NOT TOO LONG, OR, WHY ARE YOU SPTGSO MUCH, OR, EASY TIGERHANDS TO YOURSELF. I AM EXCABLE.I AM SORRY. I AM GRATEFUL.I JT WANT TO BE IENDS NOW, FOREVER.TAKE THIS BOWL OF BLACKBERRI OM THE GARN.THE SUN HAS MA THEM WARM.I PICKED THEM JT FOR YOU. I PROMISEI WILL STAY ON MY SI OF THE UCH.AND THANK YOU THE BAGGIE OF DREADLOCKS I FOUND A DRAWERWHILE WASHG AND FOLDG THE CLOTH OF OUR MURRED IEND;THE PHOTO WHICH HIS ARM SLUNGAROUND THE SIGN TO “THE TRAIL OF SILENC”; THANK YOUTHE WAY BEFORE HE DIED HE HELDHIS HANDS OPEN TO ; FOR G BACK A WAFT OF CENSE OR THE SHAPE OF A BOY ANOTHER CY LOOKGOM BETWEEN HIS MOTHER’S LEGS,OR DISAPPEARG TO THE STACKS AFTER BSHG BY;FOR MOSEYG BACK DREAMS WHERE,SEEG LOST AND SREDHE PUT HIS HAND ON OUR SHOULRSAND POTED TO THE TEMPLE ACROSS TOWN;AND THANK YOU TO THE MAN ALL NIGHT LONGHOSG A MIST ON HIS EARLY-BLOOMEDPEACH TREE SO THAT THE HARD OSTNOT WASTE THE CROP, THE ICE HIS BEARD AND THE GHOSTSLIFTG OM HIM WHEN THE WARMG SUNTOLD HIM SLEEP NOW; THANK YOUTHE ANCTOR WHO LOVED YOUBEFORE SHE KNEW YOUBY SMUGGLG SEEDS TO HER BRAID FOR THE LONGJOURNEY, WHO LOVED YOUBEFORE HE KNEW YOU BY PUTTGA WALNUT TREE THE GROUND, WHO LOVED YOUBEFORE SHE KNEW YOU BY NOT SLGHTERGTHE LAND; THANK YOUWHO DID NOT BULLDOZE THE ANCIENT GROVEOF DAT AND OLIV,WHO SAILED HIS KEYS TO THE OCEANAND WALKED SOFTLY HOME; WHO DID NOT FIRE, WHO DID NOTPLUNGE THE HEAD TO THE TOILET, WHO SAID STOP,DON’T DO THAT; WHO LIFTED SOME BROKENSOMEONE UP; WHO VOLUNTEEREDTHE WAY A PLANT BIRTHED OF THE REEDG PLANTIS LLED A VOLUNTEER, LIKE THE PLUM TREETHAT MARCHED BI THE RAISED BED MY GARN, LIKE THE AGULA THAT MARCHEDSELF BETWEEN THE BLUEBERRI,NARY A BAYO, NARY AN ARMY, NARY A NATN,WHICH AGE OF THE WORD VOLUNTEERFAIAR TO GARNERS THE WI WORLDMA MY PAL SHOUT “OH!” AND DANCEAND PLUNGE HIS KNUCKLTO THE LH SOIL BEFORE GOBBLG TWO STRAWBERRIAND DIGGG A SONG OM HIS GUARMA OF WOOD OM A TREE SOMEONE MAYBE PLANTED, THANK YOU;THANK YOU ZNIA, AND GOOSEBERRY, DBECKIAAND PAWPAW, ASHMEAD’S KERNEL, CKSBAND SRLET NNER, FEVERFEW AND LEMONBALM;THANK YOU KNBONE AND SWEETGRASS AND SUNCHOKEAND FALSE DIGO WHOSE PETALS STAMMERED APARTBY BUMBLEBE GOOD LORD PLEASE GIVE ME A MUTE...AND MOONGLOW AND TK AND CROOKNECKAND PATED TONGUE AND SEEDPOD AND JOHNNY JUMP-UP;THANK YOU WHAT RACKETS GLADWHAT GLADRACKETS ;AND THANK YOU, TOO, THIS KNUCKLEHEAD HEART, THIS PELIN HEART,THIS GAP-TOOTHED HEART FLGG OPEN S GDY MAWTO THE SKY, OH CLUMSY, OH BUMBLEFUCKED,OH GIDDY, OH DUMBSTCK,OH RICKSHAW, OH GOAT TWISTGS HEAD AT ME OM MY PEACH TREE’S HIGHT BRANCH,BALANCED IMPOSSIBLY GOBBLG THE LAST U,S TONGUE WORKG LIKE AN ENGE,A LONE SWEET DROP TUMBLG BY SOME MIRACLETO MY MOUTH LIKE THE SMELL OF SOMEONE I’VE LOVED;HEART LIKE AN ELEPHANT SCREAMGAT THE BON OF S AD;HEART LIKE THE LADY ON THE BDRSED HEAD TO TOE GOLD, THE SUNSHIVERG HER SHY BOOTS, SGGERYKAH BADU TO HERSELFLEANG HER HEAD AGAST THE WDOW;AND THANK YOU TO THE WAY MY FATHER ONE TIME ME BACK A DREAMBY PLUCKG THE TWO BL BENEATH MY CHLIKE A BASS FIDDLE’S STRGSAND PLAYED ME UNTIL I WOKE SGG,NO KIDDG, I WAS SGG AND SG,THANK YOU, THANK YOU,STUMBLG TO THE GARN WHERETHE JUNEBERRY’S FLOWERS HAD BURST OPENLIKE THE BELLS OF FRENCH HORNS, THE LILYMY MOTHER AND I PLANTED OOZED TO THE AIR,THE BAZILLN ANTS LABORED THEIR EARTHEN WORKSHOPSBELOW, THE LLARD GREENS WAVED THE WDLIKE THE SAILS OF SHIPS, AND THE WASPSSWAM THE MT BLOOM’S VIS SWILL;AND YOU, AGA YOU, FOR HANGG TIGHT, AR IEND.I KNOW I N BE LONG-WD SOMETIM.I WANT SO BADLY TO B THE SPONGE OF GRATUOVER EVERY LAST THG, CLUDG YOU, WHICH, Y, 'S AWKWARD,THE SUDS YOUR EAR AND ARMP, THE LTLE SPARKLG GEMSSLIPPG TO YOUR EYE. SOON WILL BE OVER,WHICH IS PRECISELY WHAT THE CHILD MY DREAM SAID,HOLDG MY HAND, POTG AT THE ROILG SEA AND THE SKYHURTLG OUR WAY LIKE SO MANY BUFFALO,WHO SAID ’S MUCH WORSE THAN WE THK,AND SOONER; TO WHOM I SAIDNO DUH CHILD MY DREAMS, WHAT DO YOU THKTHIS SGG AND SHUDRG IS,WHAT THIS SCREAMG AND REACHG AND DANCGAND CRYG IS, OTHER THAN LOVGWHAT EVERY SEND GO AWAY?GOODBYE, I MEAN TO SAY.AND THANK YOU. EVERY DAY.EMBEDCANCELHOW TO FORMAT LYRICS:TYPE OUT ALL LYRICS, EVEN REPEATG SONG PARTS LIKE THE CHOSLYRICS SHOULD BE BROKEN DOWN TO DIVIDUAL LUSE SECTN HEARS ABOVE DIFFERENT SONG PARTS LIKE [VERSE], [CHOS], ETC.USE ALICS (<I>LYRIC</I>) AND BOLD (<B>LYRIC</B>) TO DISTGUISH BETWEEN DIFFERENT VOLISTS THE SAME SONG PARTIF YOU DON’T UNRSTAND A LYRIC, E [?]TO LEARN MORE, CHECK OUT OUR TRANSCRIPTN GUI OR VIS OUR TRANSCRIBERS FOMABOUTHAVE THE SI SOP ON THIS SONG?SIGN UP AND DROP SOME KNOWLEDGESTART THE SONG BASK A QUTN ABOUT THIS SONGASK A QUTN *‌WHEN DID ROSS GAY RELEASE “CATALOG OF UNABASHED GRATU”?WHO WROTE “CATALOG OF UNABASHED GRATU” BY ROSS GAY?CREDSFEATURGBON IVERWRTEN BYJT VERNON & ROSS GAYRELEASE DATEFEBARY 11, 2021TAGSNON-MICEXPAND COMMENTSADD A MENTSIGN UP AND DROP KNOWLEDGE ?GENI IS THE ULTIMATE SOURCE OF MIC KNOWLEDGE, CREATED BY SCHOLARS LIKE YOU WHO SHARE FACTS AND SIGHT ABOUT THE SONGS AND ARTISTS THEY LOVE.SIGN UPGENI IS THE WORLD’S BIGGT LLECTN OF SONG LYRICS AND MIL KNOWLEDGE

Animated by what Gay has lled the “disciple of gratu, ” the llectn nsirs sorrow’s potential, ground the rhythms and abundance of the natural world: the post that giv way to rich soil, the y that reveals seeds, the branch that mt be trimmed to make room for new growth.

BOOK REVIEW: 'CATALOG OF UNABASHED GRATU,' ROSS GAY

Gay se the twng of loss and abundance as an astonishg opportuny for tenrns and joy, and the poems Catalog of Unabashed Gratu are timate, nversatnal.