Spanning generations, from the words of Langston Hughes to MayaAngelou, A Rock Against the Wind: African-American Poems and Letters ofLove and Passion (Perigee; February 1, 1996; $12.00) is a powerful collectionof more than 100 African-American love poems and letters. From strong, passionatevoices that fought to be heard, to soft, flirtatious whisperings between lovers, thisbreathtaking anthology celebrates love in all its joy, heartache, and wonder. The list of contributors to this collection is a veritable who's who of African-American writers and poets that includes: Rita Dove, Nikki Giovanni, Dudley Randall,Ted Joans, Ntozake Shange, Langston Hughes, and Alice Walker. They and others writeof the exhilaration, joy, and sorrow that come from love and passion. These works speak to all of us about romance, seduction, pride, lost love, memories,and lessons learned. Edited by Lindsay Patterson, with a foreword by Ruby Dee, ARock Against the Wind: African-American Poems and Letters of Love andPassion is a stirring tribute to the power of love--our only rock against the wind. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

While Patterson notes that these poems were "chosen for their content and wisdom, rather than the popularity or esteem of the poet," the contributors include such familiar figures as Rita Dove, Alice Walker, Ntozake Shange, Derek Walcott and others. Arranged in sections with clearly descriptive titles (e.g., Advice/Wisdom, Need/Want, Seduction), the poems offer straightforward, rhythmic accounts of praise and sorrow, with both men and women explicit in expressing sexual desires. Among the notable poems are Quincy Troupe's "You Come to Me,"' with its refrain, "Woman, eye want to see"; Phyllis M. Bynum's "Chocolate Man" and "Love Letter" from Pearl Duncan: "I simmered/ 100% juicy/ the last blackberry/ of the vine." Substantially revised from the original 1973 edition, this anthology begins with a foreword by Ruby Dee. (Feb.) From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information