“One conversation can change everything.” The newest Adams County Poet Laureate, Aerik Francis (they/he), believes this deeply — that words, when shared with care, have the power to bring us together, spark understanding, and open our hearts. Aerik reminds us that conversation itself is an art form, and that poetry can be one of the most beautiful ways to keep those conversations alive.
To celebrate their new role, Aerik has shared a list of fifteen books from poetry to fiction that have shaped their voice and vision. These are works that speak to identity, connection, resilience, and the quiet courage of reflection.
As Aerik writes, “Poetry can be an open invitation to begin, continue, and expand conversation.” We are excited to welcome Aerik to our community of neighbors, artists, and friends ready to share in the joy of words and the stories that connect us all.
Poetry
- The Blue Clerk by Dionne Brand
- Banana [ ] by Paul Hlava Ceballos
- The World Keeps Ending, and The World Goes On by Franny Choi
- Dear God. Dear Bones. Dear Yellow. by Noor Hindi
- Inheritance by Taylor Johnson
- Whereas by Layli Long Soldier
- Sleeping With The Dictionary by Harryette Mullen
- There Are More Beautiful Things Than Beyoncé by Morgan Parker
- Postcolonial Love Poem by Natalie Diaz
- Look by Solmaz Sharif
Nonfiction
- Living A Feminist Life by Sara Ahmed
- The Wretched of the Earth by Frantz Fanon
- In The Wake by Christina Sharpe
Fiction
- The Hour of the Star by Clarice Lispector
- Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel García Márquez
Each title, in its own way, invites us to listen to the world and to one another, and we want to know, what conversations in your life are just waiting to be heard?
The Poet Laureate Welcome Reception scheduled for November 6th has been postponed. Please stay tuned to Adams County’s social channels and the Artfully Adams newsletter for a rescheduled date.
