Ambiguity and Belonging: Essays on Place, Education, and Poetry

In a new compilation of essays, Benjamin P. Myers articulates a well-rounded vision of a rooted life. Gathering critical observations about localism, liberal arts education, and contemporary poetics, Ambiguity and Belonging lays out the work necessary to live intentionally in one’s home, career, and vocation. With a unique perspective as a former Oklahoma poet laureate, Myers intertwines personal reflections with close readings, poetry reviews, and cultural analysis, making these essays accessible to anyone interested in creating their own expressions of authentic community. Ideal for readers of Wendell Berry, Ambiguity and Belonging offers a stable way forward in an often-precarious time.

A former poet laureate of Oklahoma, Benjamin P. Myers is the author of four books of poetry and one previous book of nonfiction. His poems, essays, and stories have appeared in Image, First Things, Rattle, The Yale Review, and many other places. At Oklahoma Baptist University, Myers directs the Great Books honors program and is the Crouch-Mathis Professor of Literature. He is a contributing editor for Front Porch Republic and writes from Chandler, OK.