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The Black Unicorn
poems
First published 1978 · 144 pages
A lyrical and misty poetic exploration where mythic creatures observe sprawling kingdoms.
What it feels like
Reading this collection feels like stepping into a mythic morning mist. It is a steady, lyrical experience that blends the profound, identity-centered voice of an African American lesbian poet with striking, ethereal imagery. The atmosphere is contemplative and majestic, anchored by the striking vision of a black unicorn observing the sprawling kingdom of Landover. Rather than rushing through a narrative, the text invites the reader to linger on the poetic lines and the quiet power of a creature seemingly born of the mist itself. It will deeply delight readers who crave evocative, atmospheric poetry that uses fantastical landscapes and mythic beasts to explore presence, observation, and the quiet strength of standing at the edge of a kingdom.
- Mood
- misty
- ethereal
- contemplative
- Tone
- mythic
- lyrical
- reflective
- majestic
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- mythmaking · identity and presence · observing the kingdom · emergence from the mist
- The writing
- Lyrical and evocative, relying on striking, mythic imagery to anchor its poetic verses.
- The arc
- A quiet emergence from obscurity into a space of majestic, clear-eyed observation.
- Who it's for
- Readers who love atmospheric poetry that blends mythic, fantastical imagery with profound explorations of identity.
About the book
The black unicorn stepped from the morning mists, almost as if born of them, and stared out over the kingdom of Landover.
Description from Open Library.
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