Isaac Murphy: I Dedicate This Ride is a collection written by Frank X Walker. It was first published in 2010.
Description[]
In this new collection of poems, Frank X Walker immerses himself in the story of legendary African American jockey Isaac Burns Murphy (1861-1896). The son of a slave, Murphy rose to the top of thoroughbred racing to become the most successful Jockey in America. Through poetic imagination, Walker gives us the voices of Isaac Murphy and his wife Lucy, his trainer Eli Jordan, and his parents James and America Burns. Through their words we follow Murphy's dramatic Journey to become America's most celebrated black jockey.
Contents[]
- Murphy's Secret
- I Dedicate This Ride
- I Thought Slavery Was a Song
- For Family and Country
- The Right to Bear Arms
- Camp Nelson
- The Heart of the Matter
- The Good Book
- How Faith Works
- What Mamma Knows
- Defining Wealth
- Uncle Eli's Boys
- Uncle Eli's Rules
- Temple of My Familiar
- Quality Time
- Science Class for Jockeys
- Yardstick
- Groom
- Touch
- Thy Will Be Done
- Perfect Timing
- Keeper of the Flame
- Finer Womanhood
- Come Sunday It's Derby
- Nomenclature
- Walking Tall
- Down the Backstretch
- First Kiss
- Mass Choir
- More Than Luck
- Horseshoes
- Isaacstan
- Black Gentry
- I Find it Easy to Deflect
- Negritude Test
- Truth Talk
- Looks Like a Rich White Lady, But
- Oh, Weep No More Today
- Silver Stakes
- Attitude Adjustment
- God's House
- Empty Nest
- Pound for Pound
- Too Heavy
- Character
- Blinders
- The Power of Sports
- Don't Let the N***** Win
- Player Vigil
- Ain't Your Uncle Tom or Uncle Remus
- The Color of Racing
- Isaac Grants an Interview
- Colored Jockeys Show the Way
- On the Way to the Pasture
- How to Break a Thoroughbred
- February
- Here Lies
- Healing Songs
- Praise Song