Overview
A polyphonic new entry in Multiverseāa literary series written and curated by the neurodivergentāJJJJJerome Ellisās Aster of Ceremonies beautifully extends the vision of his debut book and album, The Clearing, a ālyrical celebration of and inquiry into the intersections of blackness, music, and disabled speechā (Claudia Rankine).
Aster of Ceremonies asks what rites we need now and how poetry, astir in the asters, can help them along.Ā What is the relationship between fleeing and feeling? How can the voices of those who came beforeāand the stutters that leaven those voicesācarry into our present moment, mingling with our own? When Ellis writes, āBring me the stolen will / Bring me the stolen well,ā his voice is a conduit, his āmeā is many. Through the grateful invocations of ancestorsāHannah, Mariah, Kit, Jan, and othersāand their songs, he rewrites history, creating a world that blooms backward, reimagining what it means for Black and disabled people to have taken, and to continue to take, their freedom.Ā
By weaving a chorus of voices past and present, Ellis counters the attack of āall masters of all vesselsā and replaces it with a family of flowers. He models howāas with his brilliant transduction of escaped slave advertisementsāwe might proclaim lost ownership over literature and history. āBring me to the well,ā he chants, implores, channels. āBring me to me.ā In this bringing, in this singing, he proclaims our collective belonging to shared worlds where we can gather and heal.
TheĀ Aster of CeremoniesĀ audiobook read and performed by JJJJJerome Ellis is available everywhere you listen to audiobooks.Ā
This book title, Aster of Ceremonies (Poems), ISBN: 9781639550128, by JJJJJerome Ellis, published by Milkweed Editions (October 24, 2023) is available in paperback. Our minimum order quantity is 25 copies. All standard bulk book orders ship FREE in the continental USA and delivered in 4-10 business days.
Unlike Amazon and other retailers who may also offer Aster of Ceremonies (Poems) books on their website, we specialize in large quantities and provide personal service, from trusted, experienced, friendly people in Portland, Oregon. We offer a Price Match Guarantee, and QuickQuote form, to make purchasing quick and easy.
Prefer to work with a human being when you order Aster of Ceremonies (Poems) books in bulk? Our Book Specialists are standing by Monday-Friday 8-5 PST, ready to help!