Anaward-winningauthorofnumerousbooks,ChrisAbanimovesbetweenhisIgboancestryandmigrationtotheUnitedStatesinpoemsthatevoketheholinessofgriefthroughthestartling,centralpracticeofinhalinganimmolatedBible.SmokingtheBibleisanarrestingcollectionofpoemsthickwithfeeling,shapedbyChrisAbani’sastoundingcommandofformandmetaphor.Thesepoemsrevealthepersonalstoryoftwobrothers--oneelegizingtheother--andthelargerstoryofamaninexile:exileofgeography,culture,andmemory.WhatweexperienceinthisemotionallygenerouscollectionisadeepspiritualreckoningthatdrawsonancientAfricantraditionsofbelief,andanintellectualvivacitydrawingonvariouswisdomliteraturesandtraditions.Abaniillustratestheconnectivegeographybetweenharm,regret,andrelease,aspoemsmovethroughlandscapesofNigeria,theMidwesternUnitedStates,adulthood,andchildhood.Onehasthesenseofenteringawholeandcomplexworldoftheimaginationinreadingthiscollection.Thereisnoartificehere,noaffectation;andthesepoemsareastudyintheverygraceofimage.
