"Chris Abani's poetry resonates with a devastating beauty which cuts through to the heart of human strength."-Pride
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Chris Abani was imprisoned, tortured, and sentenced to death for his literary activities. After fleeing Nigeria he continued to write poetry and fiction. Hands Washing Wateris his fourth poetry collection-a mischievous book of displacement, exile, ancestry, and subversive humor. The central section, "Buffalo Women,"is a Civil War correspondence between lovers that plays on our assumptions about war, gender, morality, and politics.
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Sweetest Henri,
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I know we promised to be honest,
one to the other, but your recent missive,
though welcome as any epistle from you,
filled me with a dread that clung
like dampness to wet wood. I am terrified
for your immortal soul, dear sweet Henri.
This mad war of Lincoln is infecting you
with a sickness too depraved to even address. . .
Â
Abani's writing is ruthless, at times traumatic, and consistently filled with surprising twists and turns.
ÂChris Abaniwas born in Nigeria in 1966 and published his first novel at age sixteen. He is the author of eight books of poetry and fiction, including the acclaimed novel Grace Land, and was featured in the documentary Voices in Wartime. He teaches at UC Riverside and Antioch University Los Angeles.

"Chris Abani's poetry resonates with a devastating beauty which cuts through to the heart of human strength."-Pride

Hands Washing Wateris Chris Abani's fourth poetry collection-a mischievous book of displacement, exile, ancestry, and subversive humor. The central section, "Buffalo Women,"is a Civil War correspondence between lovers that plays on our assumptions about war, gender, morality, and politics.

Sweetest Henri,
I know we promised to be honest,
one to the other, but your recent missive,
though welcome as any epistle from you,
filled me with a dread that clung
like dampness to wet wood. I am terrified
for your immortal soul, dear sweet Henri.
This mad war of Lincoln is infecting you
with a sickness too depraved to even address. . .

Abani's writing is ruthless, at times traumatic, and consistently filled with surprising twists and turns.

Chris Abani was born in Nigeria in 1966 and published his first novel at sixteen. He has been imprisoned, tortured, and sentenced to death for his literary activities. After fleeing Nigeria he continued to write, and is the author of eight books of poetry and fiction. He teaches at UC Riverside and Antioch University, Los Angeles.