New Milwaukee Poet Laureate's Book "Boomerang" is in Stock

Celebrate the appointing of Brenda Cárdenas as Milwaukee's newest poet laureate with a copy of her book Boomerang. Cárdenas, assistant professor at UW Milwaukee, has previously released chapbooks and recorded albums. Her work has been featured in numerous poetry journals and antholgies.

Enjoy the first stanza from "Blues Mama."

Gimme a Pig's Foot and a Bottle of Beer
bellows my mama
as she drifts about the house,
dancing with her dust mop,
wailing with her records--
Bessie and Billie, Louie and Duke,
B.B. and Nat King Cole,
The Count and Ray Charles.
I wait for each record to drop,
for Mama's voice to climb
into its grooves,
duet with Sarah Vaughn or Cleo Laine,
Mama's notes strong
and belonging on a black disk.