Americana

Read a Poem a Day!

In 'Americana, ' the poet takes us on a unique journey through time and emotion. Poems can be mirrors to our souls, reflecting the past with calm wistfulness, preserving moments like cherished relics. Yet, there's also a place for the poet's reactionary spirit, where the words ignite, pushing both the author and the reader to action.

Through the eyes of a child growing up amidst the tumultuous backdrop of the Vietnam War, evolving race relations, and the vibrant cultural renaissance of the 1960s and 1970s, Harvey's verses offer a profound glimpse into an era of transformation. His poetic voice, molded by the likes of Allen Ginsburg, Amiri Baraka, Langston Hughes, and Ai, combines the reflective wisdom of yesteryears with the resounding force of contemporary activism.

This collection isn't just a relic of history; it's a timely exploration of our enduring search for truth. As you delve into these pages, you'll find not only the enduring echoes of the past but also two new pieces that bridge the gap between America then and now. 'Americana' reminds us that, in poetry, the truth is always right on time."

Excerpt:

New York!

Herds of humanity

Graze on street corner slop and ride in the bellies

Of silver worms beneath city gutters

Street people are ragged and unfashionably stinky.

Everyone else is fashionably ragged.

"Andy" sells me a beaded sweater

off an old lady's dead shoulders.

A roguish Puerto Rican painter copies

A Robert Colescott painting as his own black creation.

Got all dressed up to go to the theatre in Harlem.

Got there stinky and hot--Harlem,

Who bombed it?

Noise all night long in Brooklyn.

No ugly people live in New York

Everyone is Cafe' au lait. Tall boy with five-inch hair

Sits wide-legged on the sub in baggy trousers.

His throat is stiff with defiance, But his dark

Eyes linger in mine for a moment.

Everything is for sale in New York

Even a hug from daddy long legs.

*****

Other Notable poetry volumes by the author:

The Last Supper

3AM: Poems and Stories From the Other Mind

Bark Too