O Body

O Body is a collection of moving and tender poems that explores questions of masculinity, fatherhood, home, and learning to live in and love one's own body. It challenges patriarchal notions of masculinity and seeks to achieve a new register of compassion and self-love. It is also a migration narrative, navigating physical and emotional distances between cities and exploring love, fatherhood, and family. The book offers a shifting perspective on the patriarchy and holds space for reflecting on the physical body and interiority.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 80 pages
Publication date: 06 February 2024
Publisher: Haymarket Books

In his captivating second full-length poetry collection, Chicago-born poet Dan "Sully" Sullivan delves into the intricate tapestry of masculinity, fatherhood, home, and the profound journey of learning to inhabit and cherish one's own body. Through a series of poignant and evocative poems, Sullivan explores the multifaceted nature of the male physique, capturing its strength, privilege, and tender vulnerabilities. As the collection unfolds, it poses challenging questions that unravel the societal constructs of masculinity, seeking to establish a new realm of compassion and self-love.

O Body, in addition to being a poetic exploration, becomes a migration narrative, traversing both the physical distances between cities and the vast expanses within the self. The cityscapes come alive on the pages, as Sullivan vividly depicts the movement between Chicago and his new home in Bloomington, as well as the profound distances within the speaker's own being. Within this tapestry of relationships, he delves into the realms of love, fatherhood, and family, challenging traditional notions of masculinity and beauty through the speaker's heartfelt musings.

As society continues to awaken to the oppressive nature of the patriarchy, Sullivan's work in O Body emerges as a vital narrative that offers a fresh perspective on the transformative power of dismantling these systems. This deeply self-aware and empathetic book provides a sacred space for individuals to reflect on their physical bodies and interiority, exploring the intricate interplay between the two and their complex connections to the broader community and the places we call home. Through his poetic lens, Sullivan invites us to embrace our wholeness and celebrate the beauty of diversity within ourselves and the world around us.

Weight: 140g
Dimension: 151 x 229 x 7 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781642599749