Call Us What We Carry

Call Us What We Carry is Amanda Gorman's collection of poems examining life during the COVID-19 pandemic and other defining moments of recent American history. The collection reached #1 on the New York Times Best Seller List and garnered widespread critical acclaim. The poems take various forms, from traditional verses to experimental visual arrangements that create shapes and patterns on the page. Gorman incorporates historical documents, statistical data, and personal narratives into her work. The audiobook version, narrated by Gorman herself, received a Grammy nomination in the Best Spoken Word Poetry Album category, marking the inaugural year for this award distinction. The collection explores themes of collective memory, national identity, and human resilience in times of crisis, while asking questions about how future generations will remember and carry these shared experiences.

Readers note this poetry collection speaks to pandemic experiences, racial justice, and American identity. Many connect with Gorman's exploration of collective grief and hope during COVID-19. Readers appreciate: - Creative use of visual poetry and different text layouts - Historical research and document integration - Accessible language that appeals to non-poetry readers - Strong themes of resilience and community Common criticisms: - Some poems feel rushed or unpolished - Repetitive themes and metaphors - Length (too many similar poems) - Some find the pandemic focus already dated Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (15,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (3,000+ ratings) Sample reader comments: "Beautiful imagery but could have been edited down" - Goodreads reviewer "Makes history feel immediate and personal" - Amazon reviewer "Sometimes tries too hard to be profound" - Barnes & Noble reviewer Several reviewers note the collection works better read in small sections rather than straight through.

Citizen by Claudia Rankine Through poetry and prose, this work examines racial aggression in America with themes of identity and social justice that mirror Gorman's exploration of collective memory.

The Hill We Climb and Other Poems by Amanda Gorman This collection builds on Gorman's inaugural poem with works that address hope, unity, and national identity during times of crisis.

Wade in the Water by Tracy K. Smith The poems blend historical documents with contemporary observations about race, motherhood, and American identity in ways that echo Gorman's documentary poetics.

Counting Descent by Clint Smith These poems navigate the intersection of history, identity, and coming of age in America with attention to both personal and national memory.

Black Girl, Call Home by Jasmine Mans The collection speaks to contemporary American experiences through poems about race, feminism, and identity with the same urgency found in Gorman's work.

⭐ Amanda Gorman made history as the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history when she performed "The Hill We Climb" at President Biden's inauguration at age 22. ⭐ The book's unique typography includes poems shaped like ships, waves, and even viral particles, reflecting its themes through visual presentation. ⭐ Gorman wrote much of the collection while experiencing severe isolation during the pandemic lockdown, directly informing the book's exploration of solitude. ⭐ The title "Call Us What We Carry" was changed from its original planned name "The Hill We Climb and Other Poems," signifying a shift in focus to collective experience. ⭐ The collection incorporates actual CDC data, historical letters from the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic, and immigration documents to create a dialogue between past and present health crises.