Kupenda: Love Poems [Paperback]

Kwame Alexander (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 28, 2000

Poetry. It had to come to Kwame and KUPENDA. It had to come to Love Poems by a revolutionary brother whose heart is tied to his daughter and the woman he loves -- Nikki Giovanni. Alexander is a soldier of love. He writes so our hearts may beat and never be broken. Of course there will always be the blues but for now, Kupenda, baby. Kupenda! -- E. Ethelbert Miller.

Editorial Reviews

Review

I found the poems relevant and easy to grasp meaning and truth from. -- Lori Bryant-Woolridge

About the Author

As a poet, stage director, producer, editor and publisher, Kwame Alexander is a pivotal figure in the current renaissance of Black literature and performance. The CEO of BlackWords, Inc., Kwame holds a BA Degree in Psychology, English and Black Studies from Virginia Tech. Alexander has written two screenplays and five stageplays, including the recently produced The Seventh Son, a two act play about the life and death of Tupac Shakur. Kwame is the author/editor of four books of poetry including: Just Us: Poems and counterpoems 1986-1995, and 360 A Revolution of Black Poets (1998, co-edited by Kalamu ya Salaam). He is also the co-editor of Tough Love (1996), a collection of essays and poems from 26 writers on the life and death of Tupac Shakur. His poems have been anthologized in numerous publications including: Grandfathers (Henry Holt, 1999) edited by Nikki Giovanni; Catch the Fire: A Cross-Generational Anthology of Black Poetry (Riverhead/Putnam, 1998) edited by D-Knowledge, and Warpland (Chicago State University's Gwendolyn Brooks Center Literary Journal, 1997). He is currently working on several book projects, and a stageplay based on the Jesse B. Semple stories of Langston Hughes. Alexander has been featured in the Washington Post, The Source Magazine and on BET Tonite with Tavis Smiley. Kwame Alexander works and lives outside of Washington, DC with his wife. He is the proud father of Nandi Assata Alexander.

Product Details

• Paperback: 60 pages
• Publisher: BlackWords; 1st edition (July 28, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1888018232
• ISBN-13: 978-1888018233
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,214,253 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #36 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Literature & Fiction > Poetry > Love Poems

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This brother is baaad!, July 10, 2000

By 

Kelly Thomas (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kupenda: Love Poems (Paperback)

I read this book in one hour, while i was in the tub, and all i can say is Damn! You go brother. It's refreshing to see a man in touch with his feelings like Mr. Alexander. I also like the fact that the poems are not so abstract that you can't get the meaning. There's something in this book for everyone. Kudos!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Again and again and again!, December 22, 2004

By 

SAMatt "PoetsSoul4Ever" (SIlver Spring, MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kupenda: Love Poems (Hardcover)

The measure of a good book, whether it be poetry or or a "how to" , is not only the reader's enjoyment or entertainment, but how long the work stays with them. I first heard the works of Alexander's Kupenda as they tumbled out of his mouth at a reading and book signing. I purchased a copy thinking I would support a fellow poet and that a friend might gleen some comfort from "The Remembering." What surprised me was that as I reread the poems, they gained more meaning for me and soon, I was quoting Alexander's work which is so relevant to the highs and lows of everyday life. I never did lend my copy to a friend, instead I bought her one as a gift and I've given this moving collection of inspirational and touching poems as a gift again and again and again! Kudos to Alexander!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kupenda is a "must add" to your book collection!, November 30, 2001

By 

Pamela Jarmon-Wade "Tx Red Rose" (Houston, Texas) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kupenda: Love Poems (Paperback)

This poetry book was a real page turner. I enjoyed the poetic thoughts of a black man glowing from the kiss of love. Kupenda's ingredients had a touch of romance, wit, urban, hip flavor that I feel all poetry/spokenword lovers will enjoy.