Finna

Poems

By: Nate Marshall

Narrated by: Nate Marshall

Sharp, lyrical poems celebrating the Black vernacular—its influence on pop culture, its necessity for familial survival, its rite in storytelling and in creating the safety found only within its intimacy

“Terrific . . . illuminates life in this country in a strikingly original way.”—Ron Charles, The Washington Post

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY NPR • The New York Public Library • Tordotcom

Definition of finna, created by the author: fin·na /ˈfinə/ contraction: (1) going to; intending to [rooted in African American Vernacular English] (2) eye dialect spelling of “fixing to” (3) Black possibility; Black futurity; Blackness as tomorrow

These poems consider the brevity and disposability of Black lives and other oppressed people in our current era of emboldened white supremacy, and the use of the Black vernacular in America’s vast reserve of racial and gendered epithets. Finna explores the erasure of peoples in the American narrative; asks how gendered language can provoke violence; and finally, how the Black vernacular, expands our notions of possibility, giving us a new language of hope:

nothing about our people is romantic
& it shouldn’t be. our people deserve
poetry without meter. we deserve our
own jagged rhythm & our own uneven
walk towards sun. you make happening happen.
we happen to love. this is our greatest
action.

I expected a bit more

There were some beautiful and interesting turns of phrase but ultimately I was hoping for something more.

F I N N A

Keeping this short. Finna was a slow but needed burn. This collection was a unique journey through black colloquialisms as well as just black life in America. I enjoyed how the author played with the words on the page as well as the flow of each piece. There were moments I’d have read through the piece slower or quicker but the author’s cadence offered a different experience - which, ultimately, I appreciated. It’s always nice to hear how the author would have wanted that piece to flow. All that said and done, it was a good read. I loved the hints and homages paid to history as well as the nods to current times. It was a great blend of old and new. Definitely, would recommend this collection to anyone looking to embrace the new voices in black poetry today.

Inspiring poems

As a literature teacher, this collection by Nate Marshall has given me numerous ideas on how to get my students to write more.
I am looking forward to the results!

a powerful & necessary collection of poems

you can tell Nate is also an MC, the musicality in the writing sings. an unflinching exploration of masculinity and the violence language is capable of, also beautiful ode to Black language & imagination

Excellent Poetry Collection

Best on audio in my opinion. Excellent performance. Take a moment, sit down, and listen to these words.