madiba: a collection of poems

“Not since Pablo Neruda have I encountered a poet who better evidences the heart’s full range. In these lovely lyrics, nothing is ever diminished. These poems, like life itself, show us how we can deepen and reconceive, love, and fail–how we can struggle against “poisoned language” and disfiguring institutions. Some of the poems are so poignant that the heart grows overmuch; others, like the brilliant sonnet sequence, “Madiba,” confirms why we so need poetry in our troubled age. In its music, wisdom, and dazzling exploration of human interiority, Madiba joins that small group of extraordinary books that teach us how to be worthy of our dreams.” –Kenneth A. McClane, W.E.B. Du Bois Professor of Literature, Cornell University