"Although Jordan's poems move with musical grace and surety, his imagery is thickly visual and arrestingly tactile, and violence hovers chillingly in the wings. These are poems about racism in America, painful memories and ongoing nightmares . . . But there is benevolence in these finely crafted, subtly formal poems and free-floating faith as Jordan praises the strength and beauty of women and embraces African American history and art with sorrow-dappled pride." -​Booklist

"Van Jordan blows a poem the way Coltrane blows a horn, but a little bluer like Miles all mixed up with Robert L. Johnson, and then the philosophy of Mingus weaving it all together. Yes, I rise and sing. We can't get enough." -Joy Harjo

"Jordan's poetry is generous and genuine; truth-telling, compelling--and many a spirit is raised by the strength of his confident voice." -Eleanor Wilner