Cantos to Blood and Honey

A rhythmic debut poetry collection powered by the pulse of the Caribbean, Cantos to Blood & Honey presents a synthesis of Afro-Caribbean, Hispanic, and North American mythology, language, and aesthetics. Adrian Castro, an Afro-Latino performance poet, explores within this dance issues of migration, cultural continuity, memory, and history. Virgil Suárez, author of Spared Angola, says "Cantos to Blood & Honey is a celebration—a celebration of a lively, original, and mesmerizing new voice who is destined to burn a path through the contemporary American poetry scene. If we read and listen, we will be taken over by this fine poet in a knockout and lasting debut." Visit our Wags section for a profile of Adrian Castro.

The following is an excerpt from XI in The Cantos,
This story could take place
inside a caramel cave
large amber balls dangle faithfully
above the entrance where
there's a copper key
to another kingdom

She sat on the edge
     of her home
          stirring a bowl of amalá
She recalled the tale
     of her headtie &
          why
     it covered her ears—

Years had passed since she was married to a rumbero & olubatá with one hand red the left white whose sound was sublime whose rhythm smoked stones of tones But he was always off at some rumbón cracking goatskin He was never home never tranquilo

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