_mahogany_ takes its name from the dark wood prized for its durability, workability, and elegant look, and from the Diana Ross movie, whose theme song asks if what lies ahead is what you really want. This book is the third in a trilogy, and like the first two books it is steeped in pop music. Each poem here takes its title from a line of a Diana Ross and The Supremes song, as well as songs from Diana Ross' solo career. Short lines flow down the page like postmodern psalms, connecting dailyness to timelessness, merging the historical and the beloved through reverence for family, music, and the life we actually live. _mahogany_ is a lament for the passing of time and unimaginable loss, and at the same time it models the daily search for joy, and the deep shine that can arise from the darkest times. [sample poem] _i'm like a woman who once knew splendor*_ sometimes i feel like the pink panther all naked and pink lost in the morass of do the best you can today and nigga heal thy self our end of winter spirits break like old tibetan snow i remember you was conflicted and i found myself alone here on my ancient hurt the disquieting hum of living history dear god, please put my head above my heart we can only be together if the stories are told plain face same instrument just a couple of coke bottles full of gasoline like god and rain is a waste of time my mother used to clean houses as a child some days i can barely get out of bed in my mind she's like diana ross scrubbing the white lady's stairs in lady sings the blues except prettier and with green eyes i've just been living off of cough drops and water and anger just sitting in the whole foods parking lot eating pineapple i am literally the definition of "hot mess" pain changes everything somebody come and pick up my limp body off the ground i am dying a slow ohio death we miss you starman it's our first sunrise of the burn *"dark side of the world" erica lewis