Poetry Book Talk: Black Pastoral - 2026 (3pts)

I thoroughly enjoyed participating in this book discussion with Professor Benson and other students. Together we read and talked through various poems from her book Black Pastoral, which explores the connection between Blackness and nature across history and in present times. It thought the framing in nature was such an interesting touch and had never considered how much nature has played a part in our collective history. Of the poems we read, one of my favorites was Theodicy on My Blackness. The inclusion of theological references gave the piece a profound depth, reflecting how deeply the Black experience has been shaped by the Black church. Its overarching message, that God understood the value and purpose in the experience of being Black, and that loving Blackness is a conscious, knowing choice evoked a deep sense of pride in me. I loved getting to hear Professor Benson explain her writing process and also loved the inclusion of love poems, as seen in Love Poem in the Black Field, page 18, which explored the question: What does it mean to go from owned to being able to own? Benson’s Black Pastoral ultimately reminded me of the beauty, resilience, and sacredness woven throughout Black life and memory. Her work transforms both pain and joy into something transcendent, and serves as an ode to the endurance and grace that define the Black experience.

Zoe Shepard