Requiem for a Redbird is a collection meant to take its readers through five distinct yet interwoven sections; it's a book, in Bush's own words, that is unapologetically both Appalachian and Black. Bush came to sort their work into poems whose main themes begin in Appalachia, end by reflecting on the country as a whole, and thread throughout the complexities of death, intimacy, politics, and faith. According to the author, it is ultimately meant to be a work of joy and hope that points beyond itself: one that subverts the stereotypes of their home region, speaks truth to power, and seeks an open table of reconciliation. Appalachians of every background, minority communities, communities of faith, and anyone disillusioned with our country's political system can find something good, true, and beautiful in this book.
