101 Books, Number 84

Favorite Books from Throughout My Life

84: Another Country, 1962, by James Baldwin (1924–1987)

In college years I read this tale—
Blew through my mind—stunning gale.

I’d never read such steamy scenes—

Had not considered what it means.

I’d never read such pages—no.

I’d never gone where I would go

In Baldwin’s work. He was so bold

About it all—and I, not old,

Was learning things on every page—

Of human love, of human rage—

And when I finished, so amazed

At all the trails that he had blazed,

I vowed I’d read more by this man—

And so I did (stuck to the plan).

Amazing how a writer’s work

Can teach you that you’ve been a jerk!