Sparrow Envy

Lanham’s expanded poetry collection, subtitled “Field Guide to Birds and Lesser Beasts,” blends lyric poetry with prose observations in a slim volume that reads like a birdwatcher’s journal filtered through a poet’s eye. Published by Hub City Press, this edition includes 30% new material beyond the original chapbook.

Why This One

Where “The Home Place” tells Lanham’s story in narrative prose, “Sparrow Envy” distills his vision into concentrated bursts of language. The poems circle around birds, watching, and being watched. Lanham catalogs not just the species he encounters but the experience of encountering them: the stillness, the patience, the sudden spark of recognition.

The collection also turns its gaze inward, exploring what it means to be a Black ornithologist in spaces that were not designed for him. The poems are accessible and grounded in the physical world. You do not need to know anything about poetry or birding to feel their weight.

What to Expect

A short, intense read at 104 pages. The poems are arranged loosely like a field guide, mixing verse with prose pieces and personal reflection. It can be read in a single sitting, though you may want to return to individual pieces. A perfect companion to “The Home Place” or a quick entry point if you prefer poetry to prose.