The poems in this book have a surreal quality. Dreams, memories, reality, and imagination combine to create a work of lyric intensity. The absence of time s normal sequence contributes to the dreamlike quality of this work. Unforgettable are the poem s dealing with the mother s illness, death, and funeral and the audience waiting breathlessly for Leontyne Price to begin her concert. The author s artistry is particularly apparent in the carefully selected details of family members. Dreaming Underground won the 2003 Naomi Long Madgett Poetry Award.