Hour of the Mango Black Moon

Inspired in part by a group of paintings from Caribbean masters Greaves, Akyem, and Ishi, this collection of poems finds resonance by relating to the 19th-century poetic tradition of "pictorialism" to create a vivid, enthusiastic energy. More than simply commenting on these paintings, however, these poems engage their subjects and creators to achieve something similar to the best art criticism, an exact and exhilarating encounter with the visual arts that produces a powerful beauty all its own. Included are 16 color plates of the paintings described in the collection.