"A future classic..." - New Orleans Magazine
IN THE CREOLE TWILIGHT
songs and poems from louisiana folkore
Praise for In the Creole Twilight
“With reverence and spirit, in image and song, this enchanting book celebrates the rich and magical oral traditions of South Central Louisiana.”—Rikki Ducornet, author of The Deep Zoo
“Each poem here is a sleight-of-hand, sheer oneiric entrapment. They come from some liminality mined only by a poet of Joshua Clegg Caffery’s strengths. Each of these pieces is at once completely contemporary as well as skillfully rooted in ancient techniques and strategies of songs/verses/folk narratives the world over, and each one an expansion of and immersion in créolité to boot: ‘The time, the time, the time has come. / The fiddler arrives and you form the ring. / Someone has to start the song, / and that is why you sing.’ The elegance of In the Creole Twilight is juré elegance and is matched only by Claire Caffery’s elegant illustrations.”—Darrell Bourque, former Louisiana Poet Laureate, author of Megan’s Guitar and Other Poems from Acadie and co-director of The Amédé Ardoin Project
“With his work In the Creole Twilight, Josh Caffery proves that he is a true bard and an important voice for Louisiana folklore and literature. Acting as both scholar and poet, he intricately weaves the rich timelessness of southern Louisiana folklore and legend into the modern reality to create a new landscape that is as dualistic and complex as the lush and twisting landscape of deep South Louisiana herself. Here we find collective rich cultural tales and ancient stories married to profound personal and intimate ones. Light-hearted humor is cradled in dark sobriety. A deep reverence for place and home is juxtaposed against dépaysement. Communal experiences are felt through the quiet heart of the individual whilst maintaining their universality. Caffery reminds us that, ‘Of all the masked performers, you are one,’ and that although far away, we are all deeply rooted.”—Kristi Guillory, Grammy-nominated musician and folklorist
"Joshua Caffery’s In The Creole Twlight is an essential collection—from the murky swamp of intense research, Caffery has fashioned poems both familiar and arresting, resonant and delightfully unexpected. Like the musical traditions giving rise to them, these poems are meant be read aloud and savored. Readers will recognize and relish the evocation of figures from Louisiana lore—the monstrous loup garou, the giantess bride--while being charmed by Caffery’s wholly original, deep understanding his subject matter. Copious notes on the poems allow readers further entry into Caffery’s eerie, captivating vision."--Rebecca Black, author of Cottonlandia
“Each poem here is a sleight-of-hand, sheer oneiric entrapment. They come from some liminality mined only by a poet of Joshua Clegg Caffery’s strengths. Each of these pieces is at once completely contemporary as well as skillfully rooted in ancient techniques and strategies of songs/verses/folk narratives the world over, and each one an expansion of and immersion in créolité to boot: ‘The time, the time, the time has come. / The fiddler arrives and you form the ring. / Someone has to start the song, / and that is why you sing.’ The elegance of In the Creole Twilight is juré elegance and is matched only by Claire Caffery’s elegant illustrations.”—Darrell Bourque, former Louisiana Poet Laureate, author of Megan’s Guitar and Other Poems from Acadie and co-director of The Amédé Ardoin Project
“With his work In the Creole Twilight, Josh Caffery proves that he is a true bard and an important voice for Louisiana folklore and literature. Acting as both scholar and poet, he intricately weaves the rich timelessness of southern Louisiana folklore and legend into the modern reality to create a new landscape that is as dualistic and complex as the lush and twisting landscape of deep South Louisiana herself. Here we find collective rich cultural tales and ancient stories married to profound personal and intimate ones. Light-hearted humor is cradled in dark sobriety. A deep reverence for place and home is juxtaposed against dépaysement. Communal experiences are felt through the quiet heart of the individual whilst maintaining their universality. Caffery reminds us that, ‘Of all the masked performers, you are one,’ and that although far away, we are all deeply rooted.”—Kristi Guillory, Grammy-nominated musician and folklorist
"Joshua Caffery’s In The Creole Twlight is an essential collection—from the murky swamp of intense research, Caffery has fashioned poems both familiar and arresting, resonant and delightfully unexpected. Like the musical traditions giving rise to them, these poems are meant be read aloud and savored. Readers will recognize and relish the evocation of figures from Louisiana lore—the monstrous loup garou, the giantess bride--while being charmed by Caffery’s wholly original, deep understanding his subject matter. Copious notes on the poems allow readers further entry into Caffery’s eerie, captivating vision."--Rebecca Black, author of Cottonlandia
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