Aurora Americana: Poems

Myronn Hardy's Aurora Americana is a collection of poetry that explores exile and return, from North Africa to North America. It reflects on the experience of leaving and rediscovering a familiar and unfamiliar North America, exploring themes of displacement, longing, and the search for home. The book meditates on the distant and recent past of the United States, as well as smaller, momentary encounters across racial and national barriers. Hardy's poems are set at or near dawn, capturing an ominous yet hopeful new morning in America.

Format: Hardback
Length: 120 pages
Publication date: 10 October 2023
Publisher: Princeton University Press

Aurora Americana, a captivating new collection from acclaimed poet Myronn Hardy, delves into the themes of exile and return, spanning from North Africa to North America. Hardy, an American poet who resided in Morocco for several years, reflects on his experiences of leaving North Africa and re-encountering a North America that is both familiar and unfamiliar. Through his poetic lens, he explores the complexities of feeling exiled both physically and emotionally, as well as the profound sense of longing for something lost.

The book employs various poetic forms, including the sonnet, ghazal, and triolet, to explore the distant and recent past of the United States. It encompasses a range of historical events, from Thomas Jefferson's presidency to the tragic "Unite the Right" march in Charlottesville, Virginia. However, Aurora Americana goes beyond mere historical narratives, delving into smaller, fleeting encounters that transcend racial and national boundaries. These encounters range from evocative descriptions of Francophone Africa to a screening of Black Panther in Portugal, attended primarily by a white audience.

Throughout the collection, Hardy makes reference to a diverse array of figures, including Fannie Lou Hamer, Frantz Fanon, Prince, John Coltrane, Alessandro de Medici, Ahmed Zaki, Modesto Brocos y Gómez, Nasser Zefzafi, and others. These allusions serve as anchors, grounding the collection in historical and cultural contexts while adding depth and resonance to the poetic themes.

Aurora Americana unfolds in the early hours of the morning, capturing a sense of ambiguity and hopefulness. The poems set at or near dawn offer a glimpse into a new morning in America, where potential cataclysm coexists with possibility and change. Hardy's words paint a vivid picture of a nation in transition, where old narratives are being challenged and new possibilities emerge.

In conclusion, Aurora Americana is a remarkable collection that offers a profound exploration of exile and return. Through his poetic prowess, Myronn Hardy invites readers to reflect on the complexities of identity, displacement, and the search for belonging. This book is a testament to the power of poetry to transcend boundaries and connect people across time and space.

Dimension: 235 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780691252537