A breathtaking collection of poems that address social justice in America, touching on challenges faced by a tapestry of oppressed cultures in our nation. Many familiar names are here: Maya Angelou, Kenneth Rexroth, Wendell Berry, Mary Oliver, Amiri Baraka - but I was equally if not more so taken by the poets whose names were not familiar.

The poems are chaptered by loose subject matter (We Are All Getting Burned, The Secrets We Give, The Next Thing To Happen, etc) that give some thematic context, but truly, one could pick this book up, read any two or three random pages/poems and have some mighty fuel for the next leg of the journey.

There are a lot of truths here - some ugly, some inspiring. All necessary for us to embrace if we are to progress as a people and a nation. It may be naive to believe that poetry will somehow provide a path out of the miasmatic tumult we find ourselves in, but I do believe it can shine a light, both on our feet and in our hearts. And that gives strength for the journey, both in our bones and in our souls. ( )