What a literary gem! Frank X. Walker, former poet laureate for Kentucky, alternates historical documents and breathtaking poems to laud the Black soldiers who fought for the Union. These poems and insights will last long after readers have turned the final page.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley, W. W. Norton & Company and Liveright in exchange for an honest review.

Truly, I hope this becomes required reading in schools. It's an incredibly important poetry collect about a dark time in history.

This was an incredibly powerful collection of poetry. Oftentimes, I have a hard time reviewing poems because it's such a personal genre. At times, it was hard to read because the subject matter was heavy. My heart broke so many times. The persona poems were amazing. I found myself stopping after every couple of poems because I had to research some of the names mentioned. It amazes me that I've learned more from this collection of poems than I ever did in all my years in school. The notes and timeline at the end of the book were very useful and much appreciated. This book should absolutely be required reading. Thank you, Mr. Walker, for writing this book and sharing your work.

Load in Nine Times by Frank X. Walker is a powerful and resonant collection that delves deep into the African American experience, blending history, personal narrative, and social commentary with a lyrical grace. Walker’s poetry is rich with emotion, capturing the struggles and triumphs of generations with a voice that is both deeply personal and universally relatable.

In this collection, Walker explores themes of identity, resilience, and the weight of history. Each poem is carefully crafted, with vivid imagery and a rhythmic flow that pulls the reader in. Walker’s ability to convey complex emotions with simplicity and clarity is one of the collection’s greatest strengths. Whether he’s reflecting on the legacy of slavery, the fight for civil rights, or the intimate moments of everyday life, Walker’s words carry a profound sense of purpose and truth.

What sets Load in Nine Times apart is its blend of cultural specificity and universal themes. Walker’s exploration of African American heritage is deeply rooted in the particular, yet his reflections on humanity, justice, and survival resonate far beyond any one experience. This collection is both a tribute to the past and a call to action, reminding readers of the ongoing struggle for equality and dignity.

Overall, Load in Nine Times is a moving and thought-provoking collection that showcases Frank X. Walker’s talent as a poet and storyteller. It’s a must-read for those interested in poetry that engages with social issues while also offering a deeply personal perspective.

I never read a poetry collection like this before. It was so thought provoking and inspiring. Felt like I was reading a slice of history in a different context besides the normal form of a biography. I will be purchasing a physical copy! Thank you Netgalley for the advanced arc.

Wow, just wow. The life Walker breathes into these poems....he raises ghosts and gives them voices for us. The historical research that went into this is clear but it never feels pedantic or performative. The collection immerses the reader into its harsh world, like an icy dunk tank of hard truths. My best comp titles would be Olio by Tyehimba Jess or "The Book of Training by Colonel Hap Thompson of Roanoke, VA, 1843: Annotated From the Library of John C. Calhoun" by Percival Everett. Strongly recommend.

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy!
Wow. This was a hard read at times but also so hard to put down. This cover initially drew me in and I'm glad because I learned so much from these poems. The timeline and notes at the end gave so much insight and pulled everything together for me.
Very emotional and raw writing that just sucks you in. History that makes you so incredibly angry but also gives so much perspective.
I'll for sure be reading Frank's backlog!

Thanks to NetGalley and Liveright for the ARC!

Reading Frank X. Walker’s "Load in Nine Times" feels akin to walking through a great museum gallery—you know you won’t get everything the first time around, but it’s so good that you start planning your next trip before you’ve even finished.

I currently live in Kentucky. It’s a weird place because it feels littered with the bones of slavery, but it seems like longtime residents are quick to look past that or find alternate explanations. There’s just a whole history to talk around. Walker chooses instead to let this history talk.

"Load in Nine Times" feels like a rebuttal to the tendency to romanticize the lives of emancipated soldiers. While Walker celebrates their heroism, he also acknowledges a complicated reality—if one is freed into violence, what does that say about our understanding of freedom? In “Unsalted,” the speaker says, “Marvel at how valiantly untrained men die.” These poems confidently explore all the hypocrisy implicit in the space between emancipation and true freedom, and Walker thoughtfully interrogates Kentucky’s resistance to upending a culture built on the backs of enslaved individuals.

I frequently find myself struggling with historical poetry because it often sprawls out of the poet’s control, but Walker never allows that to happen, writing with an accessible style that encourages readers to look beyond the book. This is an incredibly well-researched collection, characterized by polyvocality—almost every poem is biographical in some capacity, and I found myself googling whatever I could find about each individual. It’s a wonderful set of poems because the poems aren’t the point, which makes it feel perfect for, say, a high school or college class because it seems so carefully designed to generate discussion.

All in all, this is an excellent book, and it's one I'm excited to share with others.