Rajni Shankar-Brown

Tuluminous: Poems Rajni Shankar-Brown

Poetry. Asian & Asian American Studies. Women's Studies. In this visionary and nourishing collection of poetry, grounded in Sanskrit roots and cross cultural experiences, Rajni Shankar-Brown creates juxtaposed portraits and transformative bridges. She examines the complexities of harrowing justice issues while also narrating the beauty of our shared humanity. Written with imagination and soulfulness, Shankar-Brown's transcendent poems burst and bloom with the freshness and flavor of cardamom pods. TULUMINOUS voices layers of intersectional heartache and simultaneously replenishes our spirits. Shankar-Brown invites us to reflect on our own internal compasses, as well as the societal compasses in which they are situated. TULUMINOUS calls us to action, urging us to collectively build a more equitable and loving world. TULUMINOUS is a marvelous and meaningful testimony of the power of language to heal and transform.--Richard Blanco A festival for the senses, the poetry of TULUMINOUS sparkles and undulates, roars and radiates, soothes but illustrates that we must never be soothed into stagnation. Rajni Shankar-Brown: poet laureate of the just society.--Irshad Manji Rajni Shankar-Brown has given us not only a wonderful new word--tuluminous--but an equally inventive collection of poems. The verses glisten with the freshness and clarity of someone accustomed to swimming in two rivers, East and West. Awash with earned epiphanies, these poems are best sipped, not gulped. Better yet, sit back and them let wash over you like a cooling Monsoon rain.--Eric Weiner