National Poetry Month Spotlight: Shani Mootoo

We’re back with the fifth feature in our National Poetry Month Poet Spotlight series. Next up is Shani Mootoo!

Shani is one of the most acclaimed and prolific writers that we’ve had the pleasure of working with over the years. In addition to publishing her acclaimed novel, Polar Vortex, we have published two poetry collections by Shani, including Cane / Fire in 2023, and Oh Witness Dey! in 2024. This fall, we will publish a work of autofiction by Shani called Starry Starry Night.

Without further ado, please enjoy “My Heart, That Island” from Oh Witness Dey!, which is available for purchase on our online store or wherever you buy books.

Please follow along for more #NPM Poet Spotlights all month long.

 

My Heart, That Island

Chimera tropic, where

Shackle and cutlass

Manacle the mind

Beggar the begging

You differ with Quebec:

To re-member you must forget

J’ouvert morning’s street thunder

My silvery love’s kiss, her eyes

Hills orhanied in poui-pinks

Peekoplats put out on porches

Armoured emerita scamper to the sea

6 pm, scarlet ibis gash the sky

In the square the brilliant pianist

Sleeps beside Mahatma

My brother, sister, how will they find you?

Recruited? Hungry? Alive?

On Canada’s stretched white canvas

Re-membering is colour