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When Rap Spoke Straight to God
by Erica DawsonA book-length poem navigating belief, black lives, the tragedies of Trump, and the boundaries of being a woman. "When Rap Spoke Straight to God is utterly transporting. In language both elevated and slangy, saucy and tender, Dawson lovingly weaves the reader around her finger.” —Jennifer Egan When Rap Spoke Straight to God isn’t sacred or profane, but a chorus joined in a single soliloquy, demanding to be heard. There’s Wu-Tang and Mary Magdelene with a foot fetish, Lil’ Kim and a self-loving Lilith. Slurs, catcalls, verses, erasures—Dawson asks readers, “Just how far is it to nigger?” Both grounded and transcendent, the book is reality and possibility. Dawson’s work has always been raw; but, When Rap Spoke Straight to God is as blunt as the answer to that earlier question: “Here.” Sometimes abrasive and often abraded, Dawson doesn’t flinch. A mix of traditional forms where sonnets mash up with sestinas morphing to heroic couplets, When Rap Spoke Straight to God insists that while you may recognize parts of the poem’s world, you can’t anticipate how it will evolve. With a literal exodus of light in the book’s final moments, When Rap Spoke Straight to God is a lament for and a celebration of blackness. It’s never depression; it’s defiance—a persistent resistance. In this book, like Wu-Tang says, the marginalized “ain’t nothing to f--- with.”
When September Comes: And Other Poems
by Peter JailallPeter Jailall continues his search for the place called home in his third volume of poetry, exploring the "open, dangerous" landscape of a post-September 11th world. In this climate of globalization, none are untouched by the threats of terrorism or the spoils of modernization and its effect on our environment. As poet, teacher and storyteller, Peter’s unique gift for the blending of language – from Caribbean-accented English to Hindi – allows him to paint beautiful dichotomies between the Guyana of his birth, and the Canada that is his current home. "To those of us in the worldwide Guyanese diaspora, Peter’s poetry is cultural regeneration and joy. It generates the anchorage of identity and self respect in a sea of uncertainty and adjustment. To our host communities it provides insights into who we are as persons. It encourages the realization that hopes, fears, and aspirations are common across cultures and all are worthy of understanding and respect. To all who read Peter’s work come challenges to thought and imagination, glowing pride, and prolonged pleasure." – Judaman Seecoomar, PhD, Author "Peter Jailall speaks poignantly to problems of identity and the painful feelings associated with movement and change in this fine new collection. He examines past and present and points to our need to find out and accept who we really are before cultural identity can be recognized."– Bob Barton, Storyteller, writer, educator (OISE, University of Toronto)
When The Teacher isn't Looking: And Other Funny School Poems (Giggle Poetry)
by Kenn Nesbitt Mike GordonA collection of humorous poems about the ups and downs of going to school.
When the Heart Needs a Stunt Double (Made in Michigan Writers Series)
by Diane DeCillisWho wouldn’t want a metaphorical stunt double to take the perilous fall that comes with the pain of loss or profound disappointment? The poems in When the Heart Needs a Stunt Double by Diane DeCillis consider resourceful ways in which we become our own stunt double and explore through a poet’s eyes the anatomy of the mind, body, and soul. Although many of these poems investigate loss and heartbreak, this book is not about being a victim. It’s about how we not only survive our most challenging moments but how we thrive in spite of them. These are poems about all of the ways our hearts both help us and betray us during major life events: dealing with divorce, the death of a loved one, separation from those closest to you, or with the agonizing experience of memory loss. The speaker appreciatively observes "how hard the muscle has worked / lifting and lowering the weight of love and sorrow." DeCillis writes that loss can feel like your heart is limping "like a wounded animal / before you sink into the shelter of your own shadow." But with every loss in these poems comes rebirth—a beautiful, sensory-rich wildflower garden of new breaths and experiences. The character of the heart is depicted as a piece of human anatomy at the same time it’s portrayed as its own world; an entire planet. DeCillis personifies the mitral, aortic, and pulmonary valves, describing our bodies as blooming with vegetation, a recursive image of living things thriving inside living things. When the Heart Needs a Stunt Double takes us on a journey of what it means to be fully human. It touches upon the gifts we find in humor, nature, art, food, and how we celebrate the beauty of our scars. These are love poems: to others, to the self, to the body. DeCillis makes it clear that wounds need attention and care, but that loss always strengthens us. This collection will be admired by poetry lovers of all kinds, and those who enjoy modern and corporeal love poems.
When the Light of the World Was Subdued, Our Songs Came Through: A Norton Anthology Of Native Nations Poetry
by Joy Harjo, LeAnne Howe, Jennifer Elise FoersterUnited States Poet Laureate Joy Harjo gathers the work of more than 160 poets, representing nearly 100 indigenous nations, into the first historically comprehensive Native poetry anthology. This landmark anthology celebrates the indigenous peoples of North America, the first poets of this country, whose literary traditions stretch back centuries. Opening with a blessing from Pulitzer Prize–winner N. Scott Momaday, the book contains powerful introductions from contributing editors who represent the five geographically organized sections. Each section begins with a poem from traditional oral literatures and closes with emerging poets, ranging from Eleazar, a seventeenth-century Native student at Harvard, to Jake Skeets, a young Diné poet born in 1991, and including renowned writers such as Luci Tapahanso, Natalie Diaz, Layli Long Soldier, and Ray Young Bear. When the Light of the World Was Subdued, Our Songs Came Through offers the extraordinary sweep of Native literature, without which no study of American poetry is complete.
When the Men Go Off to War
by Victoria KellyCollecting the nationally-recognized poems of Victoria Kelly, When the Men Go Off to War captures the hopes, anxieties, and intimacies of the military spouse during a time of war. Written over the course of her husband’s deployment in Iraq and Afghanistan, these haunting poems span vast geographical distances and generations, moving between the literal and the fanciful to find community in the midst of isolation. Kelly blends lyric and narrative elements to evoke themes of loneliness and human fragility with keen insight. But ultimately, When the Men Go Off to War is a heartrending ode to enduring romance, the reclamation of a marriage tested by loss and separation.
When the Smoke Cleared: Attica Prison Poems and Journal
by Celes TisdaleFollowing the Attica prison uprising in September 1971, Celes Tisdale—a poet and then professor at Buffalo State College—began leading poetry workshops with those incarcerated at Attica. Tisdale’s workshop created a space of radical Black creativity and solidarity, in which poets who lived through the uprising were able to turn their experiences into poetry. The poems written by Tisdale’s students were published as Betcha Ain’t: Poems from Attica in 1974. When the Smoke Cleared contains the entirety of Betcha Ain’t, Tisdale’s own poems and journal entries from the three years he taught at Attica, a previously unpublished collection of poems by Attica poets, and a critical introduction by poet Mark Nowak. In addition to the poetry, Tisdale’s journal entries give readers a unique opportunity to experience what it was like to enter Attica as an educator and return week after week to discuss poetry. When the Smoke Cleared showcases these poets’ achievements, their desire for self-determination, and their historical role as storytellers of Black life in a prison monitored exclusively by white guards and administrators.
When the Stars Wrote Back: Poems
by Trista MateerIn the vein of poetry collections like Milk and Honey and Light Filters In, this compilation of short, powerful poems from Instagram sensation Trista Mateer shines beauty and insight into relationships, love, growing up, and learning to cope. <P><P>This hardcover collection features completely new material, plus some fan favorites from Trista's account. Filled with colored original artwork from Jess Cruickshank, this powerful collection unpacks how to heal from trauma, explores love in many forms, and empowers you to love yourself and take up the space you deserve. <P><P>BIG BANG THEORY <br>what happens if we collide? <br>will it feel like atoms bursting? <br>will it burn like light? <br>will your hands feel the same as other people's hands? <br>will the whole world change if we touch? <br>do you want to find out?
When the Storm Comes
by Linda AshmanA storm and its sunny aftermath come to life through gorgeous art and lyrical text.What do you do when the clouds roll in, When the wind chimes clang and the weather vanes spin?When stormy skies threaten, people stock up on supplies, bring in their outside toys, and check the news for updates. And during the storm, if the power goes out, they can play games and tell stories by candlelight. But what do animals do? They watch and listen, look for a cozy den or some other sheltered spot, and hunker down to wait. After the storm, while the people are cleaning up their yards, making repairs, and checking on the neighbors, the animals emerge from their hiding places and shake off the rain. And everyone is happy to be out in the sunshine again, grateful for better weather and the company of friends.
When the Wanderers Come Home (African Poetry Book)
by Patricia Jabbeh WesleyDescribed by African scholar and literary critic Chielozona Eze as “one of the most prolific African poets of the twenty-first century,” Patricia Jabbeh Wesley composed When the Wanderers Come Home during a four-month visit to her homeland of Liberia in 2013. She gives powerful voice to the pain and inner turmoil of a homeland still reconciling itself in the aftermath of multiple wars and destruction. Wesley, a native Liberian, calls on deeply rooted African motifs and proverbs, utilizing the poetics of both the West and Africa to convey her grief. Autobiographical in nature, the poems highlight the hardships of a diaspora African and the devastation of a country and continent struggling to recover. When the Wanderers Come Home is a woman’s story about being an exile, a survivor, and an outsider in her own country; it is her cry for the Africa that is being lost in wars across the continent, creating more wanderers and world citizens.
When the World Didn't End: Poems
by Caroline KaufmanTeen Instagram sensation and author of Light Filters <P><P> In @poeticpoison returns with a second collection of short, powerful poems about love, forgiveness, self-discovery, and what it’s like living after a hard-fought battle with depression, in the vein of poetry collections like Milk and Honey and the princess saves herself in this one. In her second book of poetry, Instagram sensation Caroline Kaufman—known as @poeticpoison—explores the shock, wonder, and beauty of an uncertain future. <P><P>When the World Didn’t End is a vivid account of trying to find a path forward while reckoning with the pain of the past, embracing imperfection, and unlearning the language of self-criticism.It’s an ode to the awkward silence between goodbye and hanging up, to hearts that continue to beat after they’re broken, to the empty spaces that depression leaves behind. With vulnerability and insight, this powerful collection of short poems holds up a mirror to the doubt and longing inside us all. <P><P>This collection features completely new material plus some fan favorites from Caroline’s account. Filled with haunting, spare pieces of original art, When the World Didn’t End will thrill existing fans and newcomers alike.
When This World Comes to an End
by Kate CayleyKate Cayley’s is a mind both studious and curious, deeply attuned to the question “what if?” What if Nick Drake and Emily Dickinson met in the afterlife? What if a respected physician suddenly shrank to the size of a pea? What if the blind twins in a Victorian photograph could speak to us? What if we found another Earth orbiting another sun? Cayley draws on her experience as a playwright to create vividly engaging voices and characters ranging from the famous to the infamous to the all-but-anonymous. With exquisite pacing and striking imagery she draws us into the gaps in history, invites us to survey its wonders, both real and imaginary.
When Thunder Comes
by Meilo So Jim Burke John Parra R. Gregory Christie Tonya Engel J. Patrick LewisIn moving verse, Children's Poet Laureate J. Patrick Lewis gives new voice to seventeen heroes of civil rights. Exquisitely illustrated by five extraordinary artists, this commanding collection of poems invites the reader to hear in each verse the thunder that lies in every voice, no matter how small. Featuring civil rights luminaries Coretta Scott King, Harvey Milk, Mohandas Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Sylvia Mendez, Aung San Suu Kyi, Mamie Carthan Till, Helen Zia, Josh Gibson, Dennis James Banks, Mitsuye Endo, Ellison Onizuka, Jackie Robinson, Muhammad Yunus, James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner.
When Water Flows (My Living World)
by Aida SalazarDerived from Mexican Indigenous wisdom, this is the second title in a series of poetic board books centering around establishing an authentic, heartfelt connection with nature.Using Mexican concepts, this poignantly lyrical series invites young children to pay witness to nature, to value it, and to become a steward of the planet. Water is essential to all life on earth—it helps us grow, it feeds us, it cleanses us, and it heals us. Its fluidity touches and gives life to every being, showcasing the power of universal interconnectedness. Acclaimed middle-grade author Aida Salazar lovingly turns her attention to the youngest readers, bringing her signature lyrical text – in English with a few Spanish words interwoven. With vibrant, mystical art, this book is a truly meaningful and formative experience for all young readers.
When We Were Very Young (The Winnie-the-Pooh Collection)
by A. A. MilneWith a gorgeously redesigned cover and the original black and white interior illustrations by Ernest Shepard, this beautiful edition of the beloved classic poetry collection When We Were Very Young by A. A. Milne is sure to delight new and old fans alike!Before there was Winnie-the-Pooh, there was Mr. Edward Bear, a rotund teddy bear who was proud of his stature. Meet him and many other lovable characters in this verse collection that launched A. A. Milne&’s career as a children&’s author and led to the creation of his novels about Winnie-the-Pooh and Christopher Robin. Full of whimsy, humor, and imagination, these children&’s poems tell of visits to the zoo and Buckingham Palace, the romance between Little Bo Peep and Little Boy Blue, the shenanigans of peculiar characters, quiet afternoons in nature, and more.
When You Are Old: Early Poems, Plays, and Fairy Tales
by William Butler Yeats Rob DoggettRecalling Yeats's 1890s fascination in aestheticism and the arts and crafts movement, selections will draw from the first published versions of poems from works such as Crossways, The Rose, The Wind Among the Reeds, In the Seven Woods, The Green Helmet and Other Poems, Responsibilities, The Wild Swans at Coole, and Michael Robartes and the Dancer. A selection Irish myths and fairytales including "The Wanderings of Oisin," a Celtic fable and his first major poem, represent his fascination with mysticism, spiritualism and the rich and imaginative heritage of his native land.
When You Die You Will Not Be Scared to Die
by Lindsay TunklThis brief artistic collection of fears around dying--and their ultimate futility in the face of the unknown--is a keepsake, a prayer book, a prompt for contemplation, and a gift to give to others to inspire conversations about the liberating power of death and what makes a good life.This small book of 12 meditations on death is intentionally repetitive and hypnotic in effect, and will inspire the reader to list what scares them most, come to terms with their own mortality, and realize what fears are holding them back from living a life fully with 100 percent commitment. It will appeal to anyone who wishes to live with greater intention and purpose and experience more joy and appreciation of the present moment. Buddhists and mindfulness practitioners, people who are aging, people who read the news and are worried, artists, people who are taking care of others who are dying, people who are dying (i.e., all of us ...), Tarot card readers and modern-day shamans will all find inspiration in these terse lists. Young people aghast at the adult world's seeming indifference to our mortality will especially relate to the uncompromising vision of this book.
When Your Wife Has Tommy John Surgery and Other Baseball Stories: Poems
by E. Ethelbert MillerMuch-honored Washington, D.C. poet activist E. Ethelbert Miller delights and surprises us with his deft imaginings and portraits. Ethelbert&’s poems play out in baseball rhythm and express the joy of living, despite the bitter challenges in today&’s world. These poems define our time and allow us to see ourselves as human through the lens of baseball, family and music. When Your Wife Has Tommy John Surgery and Other Baseball Stories is Miller's second book of baseball poems. Here he touches new bases. There are poems about Marcel Duchamp and Ornette Coleman as well as Whitey Ford and Don Larsen. Miller's poems move the outdoor game indoors where there are moments of disappointment and despair. Baseball can be a blues game. Tommy John surgery is a way of holding onto hope. Many of these poems were written during the Covid pandemic. They beckon fans back to the ballpark. They remind us to enjoy a game that is precious and maybe even essential to our wellness. Coming after If God Invented Baseball, Miller seems to emerge from a literary dugout after a brief rain delay, ready to celebrate the American pastime again.
Where Did Poppy Go?: A Story about Loss, Grief, and Renewal
by Gail SilverAfter a grandfather dies, a father and son journey forward through seasons and time, discovering how our loved ones remain with us even after they pass on.From beloved author Gail Silver of the Anh's Anger series comes a touching story of a father comforting his son after a grandfather dies. The lovely rhyme and poetry offers a heartfelt way to discuss loss and grief with a child. We see, along with the little boy of the story, how our loved ones are with us forever, in everything we do. Beautiful watercolors carry the reader through the seasons as the father describes the cycle of life, and all of the beauty and sadness that comes with it.
Where Do Balloons Go? An Uplifting Mystery
by Jamie Lee CurtisA wistful book, mostly in rhyme, of what happens with balloons that get away.
Where Do Big Creatures Sleep at Night?
by Steven J. Simmons Clifford R. SimmonsBig animals sleep, just like you! But where? And how? Let's take a look at what some big creatures do when you are asleep and the day is through.We're used to seeing animals during the day, but where and how do they sleep at night? From gorillas to elephants and ostriches to rhinos, plus anacondas and hippos and more, this rhyming book shows kids where big animals bed down in the wild.
Where Do Creatures Sleep at Night?
by Steven J. SimmonsAnimals sleep, just like you! But where? And how? Let's take a look at what creatures do / when you are asleep and the day is through . . .We're used to seeing animals during the day, but where and how do they sleep at night? From butterflies to bees and frogs to fish, from birds to horses and squirrels to bunnies, plus cats and dogs, this sweet book in rhyme shows kids where animals bed down while kids are also asleep. Following a brother and sister on a farm where all the animals can be found, this book teaches and delights!
Where Do Diggers Take Vacation? (Where Do...Series)
by Brianna Caplan SayresThis charming, rhyming board book about going on vacation is perfect for spring break, summer vacation, or any time of year. For fans of Where Do Diggers Sleep at Night? and its things-that-go companion books.Where do you go on vacation? Do you visit family? Go to the beach? How about a road trip? For sure! Follow diggers, fire trucks, fork-lifts—and more—on their vacation travels. Hard working trucks need to get away, relax, and play, just like you do! Children who can't get enough of trucks will love all the books in the bestselling Where Do...series. Where Do Diggers Sleep at Night?Where Do Diggers Celebrate Christmas?Where Do Diggers Trick or Treat?Where Do Diggers Say I Love You?Where Do Steam Trains Sleep at Night?Where Do Jet Planes Sleep at Night?Where Do Speedboats Sleep at Night?
Where Do Ocean Creatures Sleep at Night?
by Steven J. Simmons Clifford R. SimmonsOcean animals sleep, just like you! This informative, rhyming picture book dives deep to look at where and how ocean animals sleep in the sea.Many ocean animals are active during the day, but where and how do they sleep at night? From sharks to dolphins and sea turtles to octopuses, plus parrotfish and whales and more, discover what these ocean creatures do when it&’s time to go to sleep and the day is through.Where Do Ocean Creatures Sleep at Night? is newest addition to a three-book series, which includes Where Do Creatures Sleep at Night? and Where Do Big Creatures Sleep at Night? "Where Do Ocean Creatures Sleep at Night showcases wondrous watercolor illustrations that capture the allure of the sea. The rhyming rhythm dances through captivating animal facts about water-dwelling creatures before concluding in a cozy child's bedroom. Crafted to be a favorite bedtime read, this book is a must-have for the bookshelves of ocean lovers.&”– Bethany Stahl, Bestselling Author of Save the Ocean&“All mammals and most other animals need sleep, including those living in marine environments. This picture book&’s palette of soft colors and informative rhyme will introduce children to various facts about specific ocean animals and how they rest. Perfect for a bedtime read-aloud, this book will help young listeners and readers cuddle up together in their nice dry bed and sleep as tight as otters.&”– Sara T. Behrman, former librarian and author, The Sea Hides A Seahorse&“A delightful bedtime book! This jaunt into the ocean to learn about how our marine friends sleep will easily become part of your family bedtime routine. The charming illustrations are sure to captivate the imagination of children and inspire a love for the wonders of the sea, while sending them on a happy trip to dreamland.&” – Anne Richardson, Author of Octopuses Have Zero Bones and Chief Experience Officer at The Exploratorium "Scientific, sweet, and salty!"- Karen Romano Young, Deep Sea Diver and Award-winning Author of Whale Quest "This book is an absolute delight- the Dr. Seuss Sleep Book reimagined for the ocean. A beautiful way to unwind while learning a little more about our mysterious watery world. Where Do Ocean Creatures Sleep at Night? will surely inspire a future marine biologist or two!"- Paige Hoel, Ph.D. candidate, Oceanography, UCLA Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences"A gorgeously illustrated children&’s book that will inspire the next generation of marine biologists, conservationists, and animal lovers. The accurate animal facts were a breath of fresh air to find in this genre and will make learning fun for children and adults alike!&”- Kristyn Plancarte, Marine Biologist and animal trainer&“Dive into an underwater world of wonder and imagination. This delightful read features stunning artwork that brings the ocean to life for bedtime. From playful dolphins to sleepy sea turtles, families will climb aboard an informative journey through the sea." - Kendra Nelson, Marine Conservationist
Where Do Speedboats Sleep at Night? (Where Do...Series)
by Brianna Caplan SayresFrom the team that brought you Where Do Diggers Sleep at Night? comes another "things that go" bedtime story, and this one is all about boats and sailing off to dreamland!Ahoy there! Have you ever wondered what little speedboats do when it's time for bed? The same things you do! Cruise ships, canoes, fishing boats--and more!--wash up, have a snack, stow their teddies for storytime, and get "docked" to sleep by mommies and daddies, once the tides calm. Children who can't get enough of boats will love this nautical nighttime story full of exciting and familiar watercraft. Little vehicle lovers will want to collect all the books by Brianna Caplan Sayres and Christian Slade, including Where Do Steam Trains Sleep at Night?, Where Do Jet Planes Sleep at Night?, and Where Do Diggers Celebrate Christmas?