I Remember Death by Its Proximity to What I Love

Mahogany L. Browne’s evocative book-length poem explores the impacts of the prison system on both the incarcerated and the loved ones left behind.

I Remember Death by Its Proximity to What I Loveis an expansive poetic meditation on who we think is bound by incarceration. The answer: all of us. Weaving personal narrative, case studies, and inventive form, Browne invokes the grief, pain, and resilience in the violent wake of the prison system. This poem is dirge work but allows us to revel in the intricacies of our human condition. Written by a beloved and prolific writer, organizer, and educator, this work serves as a practice of self-reflection and accountability. Browne steps into the lineage of Sonia Sanchez’sDoes Your House Have Lions?with the precision of a master wordsmith and the empathy of an attentive storyteller.

Mahogany L. Browneis the Executive Director of JustMedia, a media literacy initiative designed to support the groundwork of criminal justice leaders and community members. This position is informed by her career as a writer, organizer, and educator. Browne has received fellowships from Agnes Gund, Air Serenbe, Cave Canem, Poets House, Mellon Research, and Rauschenberg. She is the author of recent works:Chlorine Sky,Woke: A Young Poets Call to Justice,Woke Baby, andBlack Girl Magic. She is the founder of the diverse lit initiative, Woke Baby Book Fair.I Remember Death By Its Proximity to What I Loveresponds to the impact of mass incarceration on women and children, and is Browne’s latest poetry collection. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.

• Publisher: Haymarket Books (September 14, 2021)
• Language: English
• Paperback: 100 pages
• ISBN-10: 1642595705
• ISBN-13: 9781642595703
• Item Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Dimensions: 6.25 x 0.25 x 9.25 inches