Be Holding: A Poem (University of Pittsburgh Press), written by Bloomington poet Ross Gay, is a finalist for the 2021 PEN America PEN/Jean Stein Book Award. The book-length poem is described as “a love song” to legendary basketball player Julius Erving.
In March, Bloomington independent music label JagJaguwar digitally released Dilate Your Heart, a five-track, spoken- word album by Gay in collaboration with musical artists Bon Iver, Mary Lattimore, Angel Bat Dawid, Gia Margaret, and Sam Gendel. The album releases physically on April 9.
