Tailings: Poems of an Oregon Goldminer’s Son

A contemplation on small remnants scattered across the grounds of memories, Tailings retrieves the intimate thoughts and stories from the son of a gold miner. This beautifully rendered collection travels across the rustic crevices of a contemporary America, and author Jerry Williams presents and analyzes fragments of life and loss, shaping himself through childhood memories of raspberry bushes, pickup trucks, and hospital beds. Through a rumination on portraits, a study of self, and an unearthing of stories, Tailings is balanced in philosophy and storytelling, illustrating the identity of a sociologist, a cancer survivor, and an Oregon goldminer’s son.