Earth Magic

by Dionne Brand, Eugenie Fernandes (Illustrator)

Inspired by her childhood in Trinidad, acclaimed poet and writer Dionne Brand conjures the world of the Caribbean in her first book of poetry for children. The sounds and smells of market day, the blazing sun, the joyful beat of much-awaited rain and a girl who dares to do better. These are just some of the stories and characters brought into focus in this captivating collection of poems.

Originally published in 1979, these poems are an eloquent, unsparing tribute to the lives of the Caribbean people and the power of nature. Simple chants and schoolyard skipping songs alongside more sophisticated poems reveal a place of beauty and hardship where life moves in harmony with the elements. With vibrant collage paintings and poignant line drawings by Eugenie Fernandes, Earth Magic will cast a spell over readers of all ages.

Genres: Poetry, Picture Books

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

As a young girl growing up in Trinidad, Dionne Brand submitted poems to the newspapers under the pseudonym Xavier Simone, an homage to Nina Simone, whom she would listen to late at night on the radio. Brand moved to Canada when she was 17 to attend the University of Toronto, where she earned a degree in Philosophy and English, a Masters in the Philosophy of Education and pursued PhD studies in Women’s History but left the program to make time for creative writing.

Dionne Brand first came to prominence in Canada as a poet. Her books of poetry include No Language Is Neutral, a finalist for the Governor General’s Award, and Land to Light On, winner of the Governor General’s Award and the Trillium Award and thirsty, finalist for the Griffin Prize and winner of the Pat Lowther Award for poetry. Brand is also the author of the acclaimed novels In Another Place, Not Here, which was shortlisted for the Chapters/Books in Canada First Novel Award and the Trillium Award, and At the Full and Change of the Moon. Her works of non-fiction include Bread Out of Stone and A Map to the Door of No Return.

What We All Long For was published to great critical acclaim in 2005. While writing the novel, Brand would find herself gazing out the window of a restaurant in the very Toronto neighbourhood occupied by her characters. “I’d be looking through the window and I’d think this is like the frame of the book, the frame of reality: ‘There they are: a young Asian woman passing by with a young black woman passing by, with a young Italian man passing by,” she says in an interview with The Toronto Star. A recent Vanity Fair article quotes her as saying “I’ve ‘read’ New York and London and Paris. And I thought this city needs to be written like that, too.”

In addition to her literary accomplishments, Brand is Professor of English in the School of English and Theatre Studies at the University of Guelph.

For more information, please see http://www.answers.com/topic/dionne-b...

Reviews

[Steven Godin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tuesday
light blue haze,
fat lady bug days,
in a sunlit maze.
Bruised knee spills
on San Fernando hill,
searching every street,
liking people that you meet,
step on a crack if you dare,
cross your fingers, wish in the air,
sister says you shouldn't stray,
down that darkened alley way,
says don't stare, hurry home,
night may catch us all alone.

Tuesday fades
in a light blue haze,
taking green grasshopper leaps,
skipping down Carib street,
youth in your black shiny legs,
that Mama greased herself,
in your yellow cotton dress you run,
playing hopscotch with the sun.

[b · Rating 4 out of 5]

“…river wants to go to sea / but sea won’t be her boat.” (35)

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magnificent in word and art!

[Val Maerz · Rating 5 out of 5]

The art is beautiful, vibrant and eye catching.

My favorite poem in the collection is “Skipping Rope Song” I think the repetition of “Salt, vinegar, mustard, pepper” at the beginning and end of each stanza is so soothing and cleansing, like a comforting chant or mantra I might integrate into my worried brain or like the purifying effects of a pungent spice.

Thanks Aida for sending it to me. I shared some poems with my 4th grade students.

[Jim Puskas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although aimed at children or preteens, this small collection with its warm and evocative illustrations is sure to appeal to many adults. What particularly struck me about it is that each poem, within just a very few lines, creates a mood, whether it be eager anticipation (To Town), oppressive tropical heat (Midday), disappointment, (Eleven Years Old)or ecstasy (Rain). And the entire book, illustrations and poems together, conjures up an appealing scene: a Caribbean seaside town, dusty streets, laughing vendors and children on market day; and in the heat of day, perhaps a hammock hung from a couple of palm trees, idly swinging in the shade.
A delightful little book.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Challenges: Read-EH-Thon August 2020 - Children's (10), immigrant (12), not a novel (16, verse); and, Carib-A-Thon June 2020 - Trinidad (relative from UK, bus ride, magic, shops at market, beach/mountain). The color of Trinidad seen through the young eyes of a girl is captured; Brand's verse is blended with collage and line drawings of illustrator Eugenie Fernandes. Canadian author Brand relates her childhood visits to Trinidad, her aspirations, and the omnipotent elements of earth.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twenty beautiful, picturesque short poems. Lovely illustrations.

Index of poems:
The Bottleman; Chant; Crab March; Drought; Eleven Years Old; Fisherman; Hurricane; Market Day; Midday; Morning; Night; Old Man of Magic; Old Woman; Rain; River; Skipping Rope Song; Slave Ship; To Town; Tuesday; Wind

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations in this book are absolutely stunning, but they do not overshadow the poetry. I got a deep sense of the village that Brand grew up in. The poems that stood out to me are Tuesday, Old Woman, Slave Ship and Night.

[Jesse Field · Rating 4 out of 5]

For me, it's the illustrations by Eugenie Fernandes that really shine. But Brand's poems also hold their own:

Morning

Day came in
on an old brown bus
with two friends.
She crept down
an empty street
bending over
to sweep the thin dawn away.
With her broom,
she drew red streaks
in the corners
of the dusty sky
and finding a rooster still asleep,
prodded him into song.
A fisherman,
not far from the shore
lifted his eyes, saw her coming, and yawned.
The bus rolled by,
and the two friends caught
a glimpse of blue
as day swung around a corner
to where the sea met a road.
The sky blinked,
Woke up,
And might have changed its mind,
But day had come.

[Mandy Lusz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poetry

This book, written in free verse is the combination of poems capturing the life of a teen growing up in the Caribbean. The poems go through the colors and smells of market day, the shining sun, the hope for rain, the coming of hurricanes, working on the land, questions about black heritage, and more.

I liked this book. It was a very quick read with some interesting ideas mingled in seemingly simple poems. One of the best parts of the book were the illustrations which were bright and captivating while also mixing in undertone dark images and traditional depictions. Anyone could enjoy this book in an effort to read poems sequenced to tell a story.

[Deborah Westwood Spencer · Rating 3 out of 5]

POETRY CATEGORY

This collection of poems captures some of the life of the islands. From hurricanes to fisherman, the author creates vivid images.

I liked the tone for this poetry. The hope beyond hurricane and simplistic lifestyles to enjoy full lives. I would recommend this book for YA and middle grade readers.

[Leslie Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poetry book by Dionne Brand - 2006. I loved this poem book. It is so great so see a poetry book that is multicultural.She travels the world to different countries with these poems.

[Némée]

earth magic by dionne brand

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trinidad and Tobago

Simple poems that beautifully explain daily life.