Seasons of Lotus, Seasons of Bone
Weaving narratives of ancient and contemporary Egypt while exploring ecological shifts of the Nile Valley, Matthew Shenoda is a voice at the crossroads of the African continent and its diasporas. Amiri Baraka says, “Matthew Shenoda’s poetry will open your mind to another world that exists inside and outside of your own.” Winner of the 2006 American Book Award for his debut collection, Somewhere Else, Shenoda is a younger poet with his eyes set on the larger issues of history, politics, and culture.
-BOA Editions Ltd.
”No poet exercises the healing powers of poetry like Shenoda, whose verse reads like prayer, incantation--the soothing words of hope to mend a damaged world. In this book, the Coptic Egyptian poet returns to his cultural roots and the legacy of strength so necessary to confront the hostilities against entire communities because of language, nationhood or religion. “
– Rigoberto Gonzalez, National Book Critics Circle
“A poet with deep roots in a dozen worlds, Matthew Shenoda is also a deft and savvy storyteller whose voice can't be everywhere soon enough. In the tenderly explosive Seasons of Lotus, Seasons of Bone, he seems to be privy to some parallel universe ruled by lush, pinpoint lyricism--and those who pick up this slim volume will be utterly grateful for his unerring eye and enviable ability to turn even a small stanza into a song.”
– Patricia Smith
“Seasons of Lotus, Seasons of Bone insists that there is mystery in the quotidian of our lives; there is no sense in resisting these poems. Matthew Shenoda uses a quiet language to bring some of the most striking lyrical intensity one will ever read. Like any of our most important poets, he understands that what needs to be said with the most passion comes to us in a whisper. He translates with spiritual wisdom the still moments we ignore and the cacophonies we make. “
– A. Van Jordan
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