woke up no light: poems

By: Leila Mottley

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Synopsis: A poignant, rousing debut book of poetry, full of life, from the former Youth Poet Laureate of Oakland, Californiawoke up no light is a Black girl&’s saunter turned to a woman&’s defiant strut. These are the hymns of a new generation of poetry. Young, alive, yearning. A mouth swung open and ready to devour. A quest for home in a world that knows only wasteland and wanting.Moving in sections from &“girlhood&” to &“neighborhood&” to &“falsehood&” to, finally, &“womanhood,&” these poems reckon with themes of reparations, restitution, and desire. The collection is sharp and raw, wise and rhythmic, a combination that lights up each page. From unearthing histories to searching for ways to dream of a future in a world constantly on the brink of disaster, this young poet sets forth personal and political revelation with piercing detail.woke up no light confirms Leila Mottley&’s arrival and demonstrates the enduring power of her voice—brave and distinctive and thoroughly her own.