Blacks

Blacks, the largest collection of Brooks’s work, was designed by the poet—an advantage of self-publishing that she valued greatly. The deep-blue binding and gilt cover evoke a Bible or dictionary, at once aesthetically pleasing and meant for everyday use and consultation. The dust jacket’s simple design is a trademark of Brooks’s self-published volumes. The David Company, her second imprint, was named in honor of her father, David Anderson Brooks. Gwendolyn credited his habit of singing and reciting poetry throughout the house with inspiring her to write poems in her youth. These tender moments are present in her poetry as an inspiration for all who read.