To Make An Island Of A Street Corner by Anacaona Rocio Milagro
Graphic Art by Rico Frederick
"To Make an Island of a Street Corner is a diaspora reimagined. For those of us who feel shipwrecked and colonized, a modern-age Anacaona throws us a lifeline. In her poetry, Anacaona Rocio Milagro teaches us how to construct and deconstruct our memories until we discover a new language, a folkloric lens, our inborn swag, a sorely needed truth, and a formalistic authority. This collection is a dope renaissance, a fresh creation story, and a handbook on how to listen to the people we love no matter how broken and disconnected the virtual age renders us. Here is a poet that not only has her ear to the street, but has developed a guidebook on how one is born to become a miracle."
-Willie Perdomo, State Poet of New York (2021-2023), and author of The Crazy Bunch.
"Each poem in this book contains a universe. Stars and moons. Grandmothers and brothers. Some unfold in the zero gravity of memory, others in the heavy waters of an ongoing moment, a neighborhood. It astounds me that one single poet could create all these worlds. Then bring us there -- as if time and gravity, love and regret are elements she can wield and mold, just like that, by her mighty voice. Anacaona has written something very special and it has the inevitable feel of very good poetry -- like something that will be read for a long time."
-John Freeman, author of Wind, Trees
"Transforming pain and injustice into wild metaphorical landscapes and impressive formal constructions and even joy, these poems will grab you by the throat and not let you go til they’re done with you. These poems and this poet traverse and are at home in the many worlds ingrained in New York City and America: “Today I deployed five different accents for five different situations/and forgot how I behave when I get home” she says. And they are not afraid to let you know “I don’t give a fuck if these poems are too preachy”. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book this full of life, this in touch with all of its anger and love and joy. "
-Matthew Rohrer, author of The Sky Contains The Plans
Graphic Art by Rico Frederick
"To Make an Island of a Street Corner is a diaspora reimagined. For those of us who feel shipwrecked and colonized, a modern-age Anacaona throws us a lifeline. In her poetry, Anacaona Rocio Milagro teaches us how to construct and deconstruct our memories until we discover a new language, a folkloric lens, our inborn swag, a sorely needed truth, and a formalistic authority. This collection is a dope renaissance, a fresh creation story, and a handbook on how to listen to the people we love no matter how broken and disconnected the virtual age renders us. Here is a poet that not only has her ear to the street, but has developed a guidebook on how one is born to become a miracle."
-Willie Perdomo, State Poet of New York (2021-2023), and author of The Crazy Bunch.
"Each poem in this book contains a universe. Stars and moons. Grandmothers and brothers. Some unfold in the zero gravity of memory, others in the heavy waters of an ongoing moment, a neighborhood. It astounds me that one single poet could create all these worlds. Then bring us there -- as if time and gravity, love and regret are elements she can wield and mold, just like that, by her mighty voice. Anacaona has written something very special and it has the inevitable feel of very good poetry -- like something that will be read for a long time."
-John Freeman, author of Wind, Trees
"Transforming pain and injustice into wild metaphorical landscapes and impressive formal constructions and even joy, these poems will grab you by the throat and not let you go til they’re done with you. These poems and this poet traverse and are at home in the many worlds ingrained in New York City and America: “Today I deployed five different accents for five different situations/and forgot how I behave when I get home” she says. And they are not afraid to let you know “I don’t give a fuck if these poems are too preachy”. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book this full of life, this in touch with all of its anger and love and joy. "
-Matthew Rohrer, author of The Sky Contains The Plans
Graphic Art by Rico Frederick
"To Make an Island of a Street Corner is a diaspora reimagined. For those of us who feel shipwrecked and colonized, a modern-age Anacaona throws us a lifeline. In her poetry, Anacaona Rocio Milagro teaches us how to construct and deconstruct our memories until we discover a new language, a folkloric lens, our inborn swag, a sorely needed truth, and a formalistic authority. This collection is a dope renaissance, a fresh creation story, and a handbook on how to listen to the people we love no matter how broken and disconnected the virtual age renders us. Here is a poet that not only has her ear to the street, but has developed a guidebook on how one is born to become a miracle."
-Willie Perdomo, State Poet of New York (2021-2023), and author of The Crazy Bunch.
"Each poem in this book contains a universe. Stars and moons. Grandmothers and brothers. Some unfold in the zero gravity of memory, others in the heavy waters of an ongoing moment, a neighborhood. It astounds me that one single poet could create all these worlds. Then bring us there -- as if time and gravity, love and regret are elements she can wield and mold, just like that, by her mighty voice. Anacaona has written something very special and it has the inevitable feel of very good poetry -- like something that will be read for a long time."
-John Freeman, author of Wind, Trees
"Transforming pain and injustice into wild metaphorical landscapes and impressive formal constructions and even joy, these poems will grab you by the throat and not let you go til they’re done with you. These poems and this poet traverse and are at home in the many worlds ingrained in New York City and America: “Today I deployed five different accents for five different situations/and forgot how I behave when I get home” she says. And they are not afraid to let you know “I don’t give a fuck if these poems are too preachy”. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book this full of life, this in touch with all of its anger and love and joy. "
-Matthew Rohrer, author of The Sky Contains The Plans