Fata Morgana

Award-winning African-American poet Reginald Shepherd presents his fifth collection, Fata Morgana, a gathering of lyrical, free-verse poetry that bridges the divide between words and song. Drawing upon a diversity of sources from personal experience to history, mythology, politics, and natural science, Fata Morgana delves into the mutual effects conception, perception, the self, and a physical and social world have upon one another. At times wistful, at times adventurous, Fata Morgana dares to offer a different perspective of Eve's first awakening, hidden history within the Sahara desert, and the dust that is all that remains of humans and stars in the sky alike. Highly recommended. Feelings for Orpheus I: "Orpheus sits on the strumming esplanade / losing his head for water. Florid / light sounds noon, currents green // with overflowing sun and dumped / industrial wastes: the Chicago River turning / mineral, all emerald, tourmaline."