Sunrise poison

Phillip Zhuwao, who died in 1997 aged 27, was a brilliantly original Zimbabwean poet. His poems are visceral, sharp-witted, linguistically playful, and uncompromising in their anarchic aesthetic and intensity. Rich in classical and literary references and following moments of chance, they move fluidly between the poet’s inner pain, the scarred landscape of Harare’s townships, and unforgettable images of rage and beauty. Sunrise Poison, co-edited with the poet in 1996, is the first of a planned four-volume collected works of Zhuwao, which include fiction, essays and letters, as well as poetry.