Poetry. Julie Parson-Nesbitt's first volume of poetry is a Chicago book with a history behind it. In these poems she navigates the street-wise world of the personal; comes to terms with love and interracial marriage; and undertakes a political response to her Jewish heritage. Her poems breathe a spirit of independence reminiscent of Emma Lazarus, Emma Goldman, and Adrienne Rich. Long accustomed to a multicultural community, Parson-Nesbitt writes and performs in an astonishing variety of moods and idioms. This book's cover was specially created by award-winning Chicago artist Tony Fitzpatrick.