Gold That Frames the Mirror - by Brandon Melendez (Paperback)

About the Book

Mexican-American poet explores grief, borders, and the meaning of home.

Book Synopsis

In Brandon Melendez's debut poetry collection, Gold That Frames the Mirror , nothing sung can truly be lost.
Captivating musings spanning heritage, family, grief, music, and mental illness, these poems embark on a profound quest to unravel the meaning of home, even when the answers seem too painfully vivid to confront.
However, do not misinterpret Melendez as a poet of simple sorrow; even amidst profound loss, he infuses his verses with the potential for wonder and delight, revealing enduring resilience.
In this collection, emotions swirl and entwine, inviting readers to explore the complexities of life, and ultimately, find solace in the glimmers of hope and joy that persist amidst the darkness.

Review Quotes

"Gold That Frames the Mirror is an avalanche of sonic pleasure, pulsing with imagery and excitement along its narratives. Bursting with anaphora and nostalgia. Brandon Melendez is a poet who both asks and answers, with poise and lyricism. This book was a thrill, each poem opening with a gasp-worthy line ('my first memory / is an open gate') What luck, to be alive at the same time as this book's unfolding." --Hanif Abdurraqib, author of They Can't Kill Us Until They Kill Us and Go Ahead in the Rain: Notes to A Tribe Called Quest "Gold That Frames the Mirror is a sacred surprise. Melendez carefully crafts lines that hold an ancestor at each of its break. The book is both breath-taking and breath-giving, the way each poem allows the reader to relish in what we didn't know we needed."--Porsha Olayiwola, Poet Laureate of Boston "Our speaker, while naming trauma at the intersection of Latinx heritage, masculinity, and mental health, refuses to drown in it. Here, every syllable carries the weight of a lineage and all the ghosts trapped therein; here, the ghosts are granted permission to sing." --George Abraham, author of Birthright and the specimen's apology

About the Author

Brandon Melendez is a Mexican-American poet and software engineer from California. He is the author of Gold That Frames The Mirror (Write Bloody, 2019). He is a National Poetry Slam finalist and two-time Berkeley Grand Slam Champion. A recipient of the 2018 Djanikian Scholarship from The Adroit Journal, and the 2018 Academy of American Poets Award, his poems can be found in Black Warrior Review, Muzzle Magazine, Ninth Letter and elsewhere. He currently lives in Philadelphia and has an MFA from Emerson College.