WINNER OF THE FORWARD PRIZE FOR BEST FIRST COLLECTION Chosen as a Book of the Year by New Statesman , Financial Times , Guardian , Observer , Rough Trade and the BBC Shortlisted for the Rathbones Folio Prize Longlisted for the Jhalak Prize 'Restlessly inventive, brutally graceful, startlingly beautiful ... a landmark debut' Guardian 'Oh my God, he's just stirring me. Destroying me' Michaela Coel 'A poet of truth and rage, heartbreak and joy' Max Porter 'Takes us into new literary territory ... impressive' Bernardine Evaristo, New Statesman (Books of the Year) 'It's simply stunning. Every image is a revelation' Terrance Hayes What is it like to grow up in a place where the same police officer who told your primary school class they were special stops and searches you at 13 because 'you fit the description of a man' - and where it is possible to walk two and a half miles through an estate of 1,444 homes without ever touching the ground? In Poor , Caleb Femi combines poetry and original photography to explore the trials, tribulations, dreams and joys of young Black boys in twenty-first century Peckham. He contemplates the ways in which they are informed by the built environment of concrete walls and gentrifying neighbourhoods that form their stage, writes a coded, near-mythical history of the personalities and sagas of his South London youth, and pays tribute to the rappers and artists who spoke to their lives. Above all, this is a tribute to the world that shaped a poet, and to the people forging difficult lives and finding magic within it. As Femi writes in one of the final poems of this book: 'I have never loved anything the way I love the endz.'
Caleb Femi
Caleb Femi is a British-Nigerian poet, filmmaker, and former Young People's Laureate for London. Known for his powerful and evocative poetry, Femi's work often explores themes of identity, race, and masculinity in contemporary society. His debut collection, "Poor," received critical acclaim for its raw and honest portrayal of inner-city life in London. Femi's unique blend of spoken word and storytelling has made him a prominent voice in the UK poetry scene, and he is known for his dynamic performances that captivate audiences. His work has had a significant impact on the literary genre, inspiring a new generation of poets to explore complex social issues through their writing. Caleb Femi continues to push boundaries with his artistry, challenging conventions and sparking important conversations through his work.
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