A Fire in My Head: Poems for the Dawn

“Amid outrage and protest, the collection insists on the possibility of change and on a fundamental unity…Globally engaged, accessible, and relevant.” —Library Journal “The fire in Ben Okri’s head, and thus his poems, is one of both indignation and illumination, casting light on the injustices of contemporary life, particularly Black life the world over, yet never abandoning the importance of beauty, art, nature, and the human connections we forge. Whether written for an occasion, in tribute, or addressed to inspirations or intimates, these poems strike notes of international importance and personal significance. Okri witnesses and reminds us of the important lesson that ‘Tyranny rises where vigilance sleeps,’ all the while holding space for each of us to ‘Walk in a Moonlight Wonder’ and remember the promises of dawn.” —Amanda Moore, author of Requeening: PoemsPraise for Ben Okri:“I love the mythical, fablelike quality of his stories. There is something very comforting and ancient about them.” —Alan Cumming“Ben Okri is that rare thing, a literary and social visionary, a writer for whom all three—literature, culture, and vision—are profoundly interwoven.” —Ali Smith “Fiction’s master of enchantments stares down a real horror, and without blinking or flinching, produces a work of beauty, grace, and uncommon power.” —Marlon James