Be Holding

Ross Gay's book-length poem Be Holding centers on a historic 1980 basketball play by Julius "Dr. J" Erving. The work uses this singular moment of athletic achievement as an anchor point for a broader exploration. Through associative leaps and sustained focus, Gay examines themes of Black excellence, the physics of flight, photography, and the relationship between seeing and being seen. The poem moves between detailed analysis of Dr. J's famous move and wider meditations on history, art, and human connection. Written in a fluid, digressive style that mirrors the suspended motion of Erving's play, Be Holding creates connections between seemingly disparate elements - from Renaissance paintings to family photographs to acts of racial violence. The book challenges conventional boundaries between poetry, essay, and sports writing. The work ultimately speaks to questions of witness and memory, exploring how moments of grace persist in a world marked by struggle. It considers what it means to hold and be held, both physically and metaphorically.

Readers consider Be Holding a unique blend of poetry and basketball, centered on a famous Julius Erving play. The book's stream-of-consciousness style resonates with many poetry enthusiasts who appreciate Gay's meditations on race, history, and flight. Readers highlighted: - The intricate connections between seemingly unrelated topics - Gay's ability to sustain focus on a single moment while exploring broader themes - The experimental format that merges sports and poetry Common criticisms: - Dense, challenging prose that can be hard to follow - Length of certain passages - Abstract nature of some connections Ratings: Goodreads: 4.37/5 (230+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (50+ ratings) One reader noted: "The way Gay weaves personal history with cultural commentary through the lens of Dr. J's move is remarkable." Another mentioned: "Sometimes the tangents go too far afield, losing the thread of the narrative."

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🏀 "Be Holding" centers on a single, legendary move by basketball player Julius "Dr. J" Erving during the 1980 NBA Finals between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers. 📚 Ross Gay spent seven years writing this book-length poem, which explores themes of Black history, flight, falling, and what it means to "be held." 🎯 The poem's title is a play on words: "beholding" means to observe or witness, while "be holding" suggests both suspension and support—key themes throughout the work. 🏆 Ross Gay is also an avid gardener and wrote "The Book of Delights," which won the 2016 Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award and the 2016 National Book Critics Circle Award. 📖 The book employs an innovative structure, using associative leaps to connect Dr. J's famous move to wider cultural and historical moments, including photography, lynching, and the Middle Passage.