Description

A life that crisscrosses Zimbabwe, England, and Canada. A self-imposed exile, a state of constant waiting. Jennifer Mariani's poems grieve a life she can't return to, even as she struggles to belong elsewhere. Never far from the page is the reality of growing up white in post-independence Zimbabwe: Jennifer's own privilege juxtaposed with everyday poverty and racism. The poems in this book cry out with grief and rage and loss, and sometimes celebration. Every page is warm with the heat of Africa and wet with the tears of unbelonging.

About the Author: Jennifer Mariani was born and raised in Harare, Zimbabwe. At 17, she moved to Manchester, England to continue her ballet training. After three years she returned to Zimbabwe, briefly working with National Ballet and Tumbuka Dance Company. In 2004, Jennifer moved to Canada. She has been a guest judge for Off Topic Publishing's monthly poetry contest and launched The Poetry Box with editor-in-chief Marion Lougheed. Jennifer writes about Africa, both the landscape and being white in post-independent Zimbabwe. She also writes about women's issues including domestic violence, body image and eating disorders. Jennifer currently resides in Calgary, Alberta, with one partner, two daughters, three cats and numerous volumes of Pablo Neruda's poetry. She teaches ballet at Alberta Ballet School. Her favourite poems are written for her children.