Marrow: Poems

The largest mass loss of American lives before September 11, 2001, was the murder-suicide at the Peoples Temple Agricultural Project, known as Jonestown, in Guyana in 1978. This event is largely absent from American history, but Darlene Anita Scott's poetry collection Marrow honors the people who perished and gives voice to those who have been overlooked. The poems are distinct, haunting, and unforgettable, cutting to the bone while also acknowledging and giving tribute to those who died.

Format: Hardback
Length: 88 pages
Publication date: 08 March 2022
Publisher: The University Press of Kentucky

Grape, the sweetest betrayal, leaves an indelible stain on the hearts of moms everywhere. It is a temptation that even the most discerning children cannot resist, as loyal to its sugar as any. On November 18, 1978, a tragic event unfolded at the Peoples Temple Agricultural Project, also known as Jonestown, in Guyana. Over 900 members, including children, were found dead, the victims of a murder-suicide orchestrated by cult leader James Jim Jones. This massacre, which claimed the lives of the largest number of Americans before September 11, 2001, is often overlooked in American history. When the mass suicides are remembered, it is often in a comical or cautionary manner, with the infamous phrase "Don't drink the Kool-Aid" associated with those who died by drinking or being injected with grape-flavored Flavor-Aid.

However, much has been documented about this tragic day, but little is written about the individuals and their lived experiences. In her profound and provocative poetry collection, Darlene Anita Scott seeks to correct what has been disremembered and honor the people who perished. She elevates and gives voice to the children, teenagers, and adults whose hopes, dreams, and lives were just as hopeful and mundane as any others, yet have been overlooked and overshadowed by the other focuses of history.

The distinct, haunting, and unforgettable poems in Marrow cut to the bone while also acknowledging and giving tribute to those who died on that fateful day. Scott's poetry explores the complexities of human emotions, the power of faith, and the devastating consequences of blind loyalty. She reminds us that even in the face of tragedy, the lives of ordinary people deserve to be remembered and honored.

In conclusion, Grape is the sweetest betrayal, leaving an indelible stain on the hearts of moms and children alike. Darlene Anita Scott's poetry collection, Marrow, offers a poignant and powerful tribute to the individuals who perished at Jonestown. Through her words, she elevates and gives voice to the overlooked and overshadowed, reminding us of the importance of remembering and honoring the lives of ordinary people in the face of tragedy.

Dimension: 216 x 140 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780813183619