The Alabama Writers’ Forum
The Alabama Writers’ Forum, a partnership program of the Alabama State Council on the Arts, works to cultivate our state’s literary culture. We do that through supporting writers at all stages. We encourage our young writers to find their creative voice through the Father Goose Poetry Festival for Kids!–and through our Alabama High School Literary Arts Awards. We support the work of our state’s literary community through our Alabama Authors Directory, First Draft magazine, and other programming and opportunities for writers across the state. And we celebrate our state’s rich literary legacy through the Alabama Writers Hall of Fame. We are, above all, a community of writers united by our desire to advance the literary arts in Alabama. If that describes you — join us! There are many ways to get involved.
Lullaby for the Grieving
Lullaby for the Grieving Ashley M. Jones Hub City Press, 2025 Paper: $16.95 Genre: Poetry Reviewed by Taylor Byas What is the purpose of the lullaby? By definition, a lullaby is a song meant to send someone to sleep—within the word, the verb “lull” also hints at its function. Ashley M. Jones’ Lullaby for the Grieving is itself a song that seeks to soothe us as the many-faced monster of grief waits under our beds. Jones wastes no time getting to the point. The book opens with the poem “What It Really Is,” a self-identified “american acrostic,” and the first letters of each line together spell out “critical race theory.” The ambiguity of the “it” in the poem’s title makes room for a double interpretation of the poem. On the one hand, the “it” is America, and the foundation of it is critical race theory, understanding how racism is embedded in American society. On the other hand, the “it” is grief, and its true nature stems from being a Black woman in a world that oppresses her from every angle. Part of the brilliance of this book is how [...]
