Mark Doty is een dichter, essayist en memoireschrijver wiens werk zich verdiept in de diepten van de menselijke ervaring. Zijn poëzie en proza worden geprezen om hun inzichtelijke verkenningen van de schoonheid en kwetsbaarheid van de wereld, vaak gericht op thema's als liefde, verlies en natuur. Doty's stijl kenmerkt zich door zijn gevoeligheid en precisie in taalgebruik, waarbij hij complexe emoties en momenten met opmerkelijke helderheid vastlegt. Zijn schrijven biedt lezers een intieme kijk op de zoektocht naar betekenis en verbinding in een voortdurend veranderende wereld.
In What Is the Grass, Doty - a poet, a lover of men, a New Yorker, and an American - keeps company with Whitman and his mutable, landmark work, Leaves of Grass, tracing the resonances between his own experience and the legendary poet's life and work.What is it, then, between us? Whitman asks.
As Beau bounds back to life, the two dogs become Mark Doty's companions, his solace, and eventually the very life force that keeps him from abandoning all hope during the darkest days - their tenacity, loyalty and love inspiring him when all else fails.
The book delves into the transformation of Dallas from its humble beginnings in 1841 to a thriving metropolis following the arrival of the Texas and Pacific Railroad in 1873. It highlights the city's continuous development as a banking and commercial hub, which resulted in the loss of many historic buildings and neighborhoods. By documenting these forgotten places, the work captures the essence of Dallas's architectural heritage and the impact of urban growth on its historical landscape.