*'I am Black because I come from the earth's inside *

*'I am Black because I come from the earth's inside *

• now take my word for jewel in the open light.'Impassioned and profound, the poems in Coal * showcase Audre Lorde in all her dazzling elegance and multiplicity. Mournful, celebratory, politically conscious, this early collection is a testament to Lorde's beloved and hugely influential lyric voice, which faithfully captures the complex interiority of the self. These timeless poems resonate down the years.