Something says find out

why rain falls, what makes corn proud

and squash so humble, the questions

call like a train whistle …

George Washington Carver was determined to help the people he loved. Born enslaved in Missouri, he left home in search of an education, eventually earning his master’s degree. When Booker T. Washington invited Carver to start the agricultural department

at the all-Black-staffed Tuskegee Institute, Carver found his calling. He spent the rest of his life seeking solutions to poverty among landless Black farmers by developing new uses for soil-replenishing crops such as peanuts, cowpeas, and sweet potatoes. Known for his

achievements as a botanist and inventor, Carver’s quest also led him to become a gifted painter, musician, and teacher. This collection of poems by award-winning poet Marilyn Nelson paints a compelling portrait of Carver’s complex, profoundly devout life.