by Grace Nichols (Francis Lincoln)

There are some beautiful poems in this solo collection. Some tell a story, some relate a riddle, some are lyrical, some are quite terse. Many of them are improved if you imagine them recited with a Caribbean lilt to the poet’s voice. They all illustrate the beauty of Nichols’ way with words: She knows how to make complicated ideas simple; how to convey a complex emotion in just a couple of syllables; how to grab your attention in one word. My, she’s clever. TUC