Wisteria: Poems From The Swamp Country

by Kwame Dawes

In Wisteria, Kwame Dawes finds poignant meaning in the landscape and history of Sumter, a small town in central South Carolina. Here the voices of women who lived through most of the twentieth century teachers, beauticians, seamstresses, domestic workers and farming folk unfold with the raw honesty of people who have waited for a long time to finally speak their mind. The poems move with the narrative of stories long repeated but told with fresh emotion each time, with the lyrical depth of a blues threnody or a negro spiritual, and with the flame and shock of a prophet forced to speak the hardest truths. These are poems of beauty and insight that pay homage to the women who told Dawes their stories, and that, at the same time, find a path beyond these specific narratives to something embracingly human. Few poets have managed to enter the horror of Jim Crow America with the fresh insight and sharply honed detail that we see in Dawes s writing. With all good southern songs of spiritual and emotional truth, Dawes understands that redemption is essential and he finds it in the pure music of his art. Dawes, the Ghanaian-born, Jamaican poet is not an interloper here, but a man who reminds us of the power of the most human and civilizing gift of empathy and the shared memory of the Middle Passage and its aftermath across the black diaspora. These are essential poems.

Genres: Poetry

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Born in Ghana in 1962, Kwame Dawes spent most of his childhood and early adult life in Jamaica . As a poet, he is profoundly influenced by the rhythms and textures of that lush place, citing in a recent interview his "spiritual, intellectual, and emotional engagement with reggae music." His book Bob Marley: Lyrical Genius remains the most authoritative study of the lyrics of Bob Marley.

His 11th collection of verse, Wisteria: Poems From the Swamp Country, was published in January 2006. In February, 2007 Akashic Books published his novel, She's Gone and Peepal Tree Books published his 12th collection of poetry, Impossible Flying, and his non-fiction work, A Far Cry From Plymouth Rock: A Personal Narrative.

His essays have appeared in numerous journals including Bomb Magazine, The London Review of Books, Granta, Essence, World Literature Today and Double Take Magazine.

In October, 2007, his thirteenth book of poems, Gomer's Song will appear on the Black Goat imprint of Akashic Books. Dawes has seen produced some twenty of his plays over the past twenty-five years including, most recently a production of his musical, One Love, at the Lyric Hammersmith in London .

Kwame Dawes is Distinguished Poet in Residence, Louis Frye Scudder Professor of Liberal Arts and Founder and executive Director of the South Carolina Poetry Initiative. He is the director of the University of South Carolina Arts Institute and the programming director of the Calabash International Literary Festival, which takes place in Jamaica in May of each year.

Reviews

[Timmy R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gift to literature. This collection is more than poetry it’s an act of preservation, a safeguarding of voices that must never be silenced.

[Kerri Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

These experiences aren't my experiences. These stories aren't my stories. And that's one of myriad reasons white people need to read more (books and books of) poetry by Black authors.

And if it is not hate
it must be something
more insidious than hate,
—from "Long Memory"

Circumspect woman,
you carry your memories
tied up in a lip-stick-stained
kerchief in a worn straw basket.
When you undo the knot,
the scent of wisteria,
thick with the nausea of nostalgia
fills the closed-in room.
—from "Wisteria"

I watched them return like creatures
birthed among the twisted trunks,

haloed by their rising breaths,
the leaves crackling underfoot.
—from "Fire Makers"

This is the first book of poetry I've read by Dawes, and (while certainly not the point of this collection of poetry) I'm better for it. I'm definitely going to be seeking out more and more writing of his.

[Five stars for truth in beautiful verse, and the power of recreating lost stories.]

[James M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kwame Dawes has given us more than poetry he has given us testimony. Wisteria is not just a collection of words, but a living archive of memory and survival. Through the voices of women who endured Jim Crow, hardship, and silenced struggles, Dawes crafts lines that feel both intimate and universal. I could feel the echoes of pain, resilience, and redemption in every stanza. This book does not just tell stories it resurrects them, honors them, and ensures they will never be forgotten.

[Darryl L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading Wisteria feels like sitting in a room with elders, hearing them speak truth with trembling voices that still carry power. Dawes has captured something sacred the lived reality of women whose histories have too often been ignored. Each poem is like a blues song, carrying sorrow and triumph in equal measure. It is both heartbreaking and healing. I finished the book feeling grateful that such a work exists.

[Holly D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wisteria is a book that breathes life into the untold stories of women who shaped history quietly yet powerfully. Kwame Dawes writes with such tenderness that you can feel the pulse of each woman’s journey. These poems aren’t just words they are windows into survival, love, resilience, and truth. Dawes makes history personal and urgent, while wrapping it in lyrical beauty. It’s impossible to read this without being moved.

[Nina S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I admire most about Wisteria is how Kwame Dawes gives dignity to the voices of ordinary women whose experiences are anything but ordinary. He doesn’t just write poetry; he preserves living memory and transforms pain into art. The cadence of the poems feels like songs passed down through generations, vibrating with sorrow but also with hope. This book is not only a work of literature but a testament to human resilience.

[Dorothy D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dawes has achieved something rare in Wisteria: he has written poetry that speaks both to the heart and to history. The women’s voices rise from the pages with honesty and vulnerability, making you feel as if you are sitting across from them, listening to their life stories. His words hold both gravity and grace, bringing out the profound humanity within the struggles of Jim Crow America. This is not just a book of poems; it is a lasting monument.

[William M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was struck by how Wisteria manages to carry both weight and light. The stories are heavy, filled with the realities of oppression and struggle, but Dawes’ lyrical gift transforms them into something radiant. Each poem has the emotional power of a blues song, reminding us of both the sorrow and the beauty of survival. This is a collection to be read slowly, absorbed deeply, and remembered always.

[Adelaida B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wisteria is the kind of poetry collection that reminds you why literature matters. Dawes has created a bridge between past and present, between pain and healing, and between silence and voice. His ability to channel the experiences of women into verse that feels sacred and musical is extraordinary. Every line holds a truth that resonates beyond the specific, touching something universal in all of us.

[Kevin J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kwame Dawes' Wisteria is not just a collection of poems it is a sacred archive of lived memory. Through the dignified voices of Southern women, he reconstructs a world often ignored or misunderstood. Each poem feels like a spiritual testimony, a blues refrain of pain, resilience, and hard-won grace. A profoundly important work

[Samuel J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wisteria is a stunning testament to the power of poetry to preserve memory, honor resilience, and speak truth with grace. Dawes captures the voices of women from Sumter with such empathy and lyrical beauty that their stories become not just history, but living, breathing experiences. This is essential reading deeply human, profoundly moving, and unforgettable.

[Alfred L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not just poetry it is history, it is lament, and it is celebration all at once. Kwame Dawes writes with the kind of empathy that makes the reader stop and breathe in every line. The imagery, the cadence, the honesty it all feels like sacred ground. Wisteria is a powerful reminder of how essential storytelling is, and how poetry can give voice to the voiceless.

[Michele J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Few books have moved me the way Wisteria has. Dawes has captured the essence of a community, giving voice to women who carried the weight of generations on their shoulders. The poems feel like a blend of spiritual hymns and whispered confessions, creating a rhythm that is both haunting and beautiful. This book does more than preserve history it transforms it into something timeless.

[Candida C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kwame Dawes proves himself not only as a poet but also as a vessel of memory and truth. Wisteria is rich with cultural resonance, deeply human insight, and emotional honesty. Every page feels like a bridge between past and present, pain and redemption. This is poetry that sings, mourns, and ultimately uplifts.

[Jason B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wisteria reminds me that poetry is not just art it is survival. The stories of these women, carefully and tenderly woven by Dawes, are not easy to read, but they are necessary. Each poem feels like a testimony that refuses to be silenced. Dawes writes with compassion, precision, and a deep sense of responsibility to history. This collection will stay with me for a very long time.

[Dianne D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was captivated by the way Kwame Dawes uses language like music. Wisteria reads like a symphony of voices each distinct, each carrying the weight of truth, yet all blending into something harmonious and unforgettable. It is not just a book of poems; it is a choir of resilience and dignity rising out of the harsh soil of history.

[Blythe J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

What struck me most about Wisteria is its balance of pain and redemption. Dawes does not shy away from the horror of Jim Crow America, yet he never leaves us in despair. Through rhythm, song, and empathy, he guides us toward understanding and even healing. That balance is what makes this book extraordinary.

[Shavonne R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a gift to literature, history, and humanity. Dawes has honored the women of Sumter by preserving their stories in verse that feels eternal. Reading Wisteria is like stepping into a living museum except the voices here are not trapped behind glass. They speak directly to the heart, and their words ring with strength.

[Phyllis R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wisteria is both intimate and epic. It tells the stories of individuals, yet somehow encompasses the weight of an entire people’s history. Dawes writes with reverence and empathy, making each poem not just art but also an act of preservation. This is the kind of book that should be taught, shared, and passed down.

[Michael T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rarely do we encounter poetry that feels so alive, so urgent, and so necessary. Dawes manages to write with both lyrical beauty and historical weight. Wisteria is a collection that honors the pain of the past while reminding us of the resilience of the human spirit. It is deeply moving and profoundly important.

[Robert R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every poem in Wisteria feels like a flame sometimes steady, sometimes burning, but always illuminating truths that have too often been hidden. Dawes has not just written poetry; he has created a sanctuary for the voices of women who deserve to be heard. This collection will move you to tears, but also to gratitude.

[Donald G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading Wisteria is like being guided through a history that textbooks never taught us, but should have. Dawes gives voice to women who were the backbone of their communities, yet often forgotten in mainstream narratives. His poetry is both deeply personal and universally human. I left this book with my heart full.

[Karl F. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The sheer empathy in Wisteria is breathtaking. Dawes steps into stories of hardship and survival with reverence, never overshadowing the voices of the women but amplifying them. Each poem carries rhythm like a spiritual, pulling you in and grounding you in the truth of their experiences. The result is not just poetry, but an act of healing, remembrance, and redemption.

[Pamela T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kwame Dawes proves that poetry can be both witness and balm. Wisteria takes us into the heart of Sumter, South Carolina, and reveals a tapestry of voices that demand to be heard. The beauty of this work lies not just in its historical relevance, but in its timeless reminder of human dignity. The poems are filled with both raw truth and transcendent music painful at times, but always luminous.

[Sarah M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading Wisteria felt like sitting in the presence of history’s forgotten heroines. Dawes has given space for their truths to breathe, and his poetic mastery ensures they will echo for generations. The imagery is sharp, the rhythm soulful, and the empathy unmistakable. It is a rare book that manages to be both literature and testimony, but this collection accomplishes that with grace.

[Wanda R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The genius of Kwame Dawes is his ability to let the voices in Wisteria speak without interference, while still shaping them into poetry that soars. The collection is raw yet refined, painful yet beautiful. Each page feels like a doorway into the lives of women who endured unimaginable hardships, and yet their voices sing of endurance and humanity. This is a book that nourishes the soul.

[Gwendolyn K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

What makes Wisteria unforgettable is the way Dawes transforms history into something immediate and intimate. These aren’t just stories from the past they feel alive, urgent, and necessary right now. His words carry the rhythm of spirituals, the weight of memory, and the spark of redemption. The poems don’t just honor the women of Sumter; they honor all who have endured and persevered.

[Bobbie R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dawes writes with the conviction of a prophet and the tenderness of a son listening to his mother’s stories. Wisteria is a rare work that captures both pain and grace, showing us the resilience of women who lived through oppression but refused to be broken. Every poem feels carefully carved, like a song etched into history. This book is nothing less than a treasure.

[Maurice S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wisteria reminded me of the power of poetry to bear witness. These poems are steeped in history, yet they never feel distant they pull you in and demand your attention. Dawes’ craft is extraordinary; his words carry rhythm, weight, and a sense of deep reverence. This book feels like a hymn, both sorrowful and redemptive, reminding us of the beauty of human endurance.

[Robert D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a deep compassion at the heart of Wisteria. Dawes has not just written about women of the South he has honored them. Each poem is alive with voice, with texture, with the weight of lived experience. It is impossible not to feel their presence as you read, and that is the mark of truly great poetry. This book lingers long after you’ve closed it.