WHAT NOISE AGAINST THE CANE

The 2020 winner of the Yale Younger Poets prize is sometimes emotionally difficult to hear. The poetry is unstintingly honest and unafraid of challenging the listener. Those unfamiliar with Caribbean speech may also have some trouble with the intense Trinidadian accent the author uses in many of the poems, but a second listen should enable anyone to get the full power of this work. And there is considerable power here, worthy of a second listen. The collection is centered on Caribbean history and mythology, and can be as educational as it is moving. Add to that a voice that is almost singing the text, and you get a marvelous poetry experience. D.M.H. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2022]