Ani Difranco - Verses (Poetry Book)

Despite since 1990 having released ninteen full-length albums, three EPs, three DVDs, and ten official live bootleg albums, and being known as a performing poet, Ani didn't release her first poetry book until a few years ago—and that book, Self-Evident, had to be imported from Italy. Finally, in 2007, she released Verses, her first poetry book released in the US.

The handsomely-bound hardcover is 112 pages of original paintings and poems that span her entire career. Most of the poems—like "Serpentine," "Grand Canyon," and "Coming Up"—can be found on her albums, in spoken word/musical form, but a few appear here in print for the first time.

One thing about Ani's poetry is that she says some very profound things in very simple ways. I don't always agree with what she says—especially some of her stronger views on racism—but she always says it so well, that I just can't do anything but respect it. And with that...