Behold

"Few contemporary poetry books begin with such unabashedly epic, rhapsodic, prophetic a voice as Shara McCallum’s Behold. From here the journey takes us through Jamaica of the poet’s childhood to ways of perceiving the interior—in museums, galleries, art studios of the world. This formally inventive book is a singing in defense of deeper contemplation. Having seen the “surreal landscape of history’s graveyard” and understood “what it means to be a refugee in one’s own country” the poet gives us wisdom. Through McCallum’s clarity of perspective, her musical, memorable clarity, the soul stands apart, sees and is seen. With unrelenting honesty, here is a book that proposes we take a step back from the shallowness of our age and open our eyes—as the many painters and landscapes the poet finds herself in front of do—to behold the world that is ours. Behold. Behold. This is a beautiful, soul-making book." —Ilya Kaminsky