The Animals of My Earth School

<p>In the compassionate playful fable-like poems of <em>The Animals of My Earth School </em>Mildred Kiconco Barya awakens us to the vividly singing fully alive non-human communities surrounding us. These poems demonstrate poetry's unique ability to prick us from our self-involved numbness and awaken us to wonder. There is great solace tenderness and <em>innocence </em>here-the kind of innocence capable of apprehending the creatures of the world-and thus the world itself-afresh. Like a literary Noah's ark of song <em>The Animals of My Earth School </em>provides a place where all may dance and thrive. These poems provide pleasure and a glimmer of hope.  -Michael Hettich <em>The Mica Mine</em></p>