Down to My Last Skin: Poems

by Antjie Krog

This is the first collection of Antjie Krog s poetry to appear in English, and it cements her reputation as one of South Africa s greatest poets. Down to My Last Skin is her poetic exploration of her different identities, the layers that make the human condition so intricate, fragile and yet resilient.The collection is divided into seven clear sections which explore layers in Krog s life, and those in every individual.Down to My Last Skin was the inaugural winner of the FNB Vita Poetry Award in 2000. From Down to My Last Skin, p80(n) neither family nor friends says Lady Annetonight everything speaks through the dead towards meyour brittle bundle of bonesmy longestloved belovedlies lonely and longingly cradled somewhere lostand leanI am overwhelmingly awake tonightof me so little has becomeyou are all I had in this worldbeloved deathlingalone and cold it is behind my ribsAfrica had me giving up allit is so darkit is so bleaksoft beloved taunterof me so little has becomeI am downto my last skin"

Genres: Poetry, South Africa

119 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Krog grew up on a farm, attending primary and secondary school in Kroonstad. In 1973 she earned a BA (Hons) degree in English from the University of the Orange Free State, and an MA in Afrikaans from the University of Pretoria in 1976. With a teaching diploma from the University of South Africa (UNISA) she would lecture at a segregated teacher’s training college for black South Africans.

She is married to architect John Samuel and has four children: Andries, Susan, Philip, and Willem. In 2004 she joined the Arts faculty of the University of the Western Cape.

Reviews

[Eva]

Not really to my taste, so i will not rate it. This edition is an english translation and somehow it feels like i am missing out on something. I would like to read this in Dutch or Zuid-Afrikaans. I think that makes a huge difference.

I had no feeling at all reading many of these poems. Maybe because many poems also seem to require some knowledge about South-Africa, the country, the culture and the politics. Which i don 't have. Also, a lot of the writing is about sex in a graphic way. Also not really my interest.

So, my search continues...

[Madelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Steven Godin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I Found these poems difficult to truly get into.

[Jim Agustin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poetry that must have been really groundbreaking when the early poems came out. The harsh South African realities are tempered with highly personal revelations.

Love this book and wish I could read the poems in the original language. Perhaps one day.