BE HOLDING A Poem

This audiobook, which is reminiscent of a stream-of-consciousness poem, is an ode to basketball great Julius Irving. At the same time, it features the storytelling approach of a memoir, which poet Ross Gay enhances in his narration. He knows how to use intonation, when to ratchet up his energy, and when to gently slow the pace. Not everyone can narrate their own words, but Gay pulls it off, and listeners will feel they get to know him through his writing and delivery. This is not a poem about basketball, per se, but about Dr. J's grace on the court, a grace that Gay unveils as he delivers his own thoughtful words. M.B. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2024]