Multitudes: Poems Selected & New - Hardcover

Weaver, Afaa M.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 188933040X ISBN 13: 9781889330402

Publisher: Sarabande Books, 2000

Synopsis

A generous, retrospective edition of this African-American poet.

About this title

Reviews

Weaver (Timber and Prayer) is quite possibly the most highly touted unknown poet working today (witness an introduction by Arnold Rapersad and blurbs from Amiri Baraka and Sonia Sanchez). Five previous volumes of poetry have passed almost in obscurity and are mostly out-of-print. Just as those faithful to his work have witnessed his name change (with earlier books, he was Michael S. Weaver), readers watch as, during the 15 years this volume spans, his acceptance of growing up black in America turns into African American pride. Compare, for example, the early lyric "A Young Aristocracy," (where the poet finally appreciates those fathers who labored 16-hour shifts for "the grand feeling of buying a new row home") with the recent poem, "Enemies," (in which he quotes a co-worker: "Nigger is not really/ a person's color. A nigger cannot be a person." The only place these poems disappoint is in some of his newest work, where the spirit of play overshadows sensitivity. Highly recommended.DRochelle Ratner, formerly with Soho Weekly News, NY
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Sarabande Books
• Publication date: 2000
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 188933040X
• ISBN 13: 9781889330402
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 160