InTraceEvidence,theurgentfollow-uptohisaward-winningdebutIntoEachRoomWeEnterwithoutKnowing,CharifShanahancontinueshispiercingmeditationsontheintricaciesofmixed-raceidentity,queerdesire,time,mortality,andthelegaciesofanti-BlacknessintheUSandabroad.Atthecollection’scentersits“OntheOvernightfromAgadir,“apoemthatchroniclesShanahan’ssurvivalofadevastatingbusaccidentinMorocco,hismother’sbirthcountry,andruminatesonhome,belonging,andthemysteriesoffate.Withrichlyricism,power,andtenderness,TraceEvidencecenterstheracialperipheryandexcavatesthevestigesofourviolentcolonialpastinthemostintimateaspectsofourlives.Inalanguageyokedequallytothephysicalandmetaphysicalworlds,thepoetarticulatestheneedweallshareforrealintimacyandconnection,andproves,timeandagain,thatthetruecostofourseparatenessisthelovethatoursurvivalrequires.
