Face Me I Face You

About the Book

Winner of the Kermit Moyer Prize for Craft in Lyrical Writing (2024) - American University, Washington, DC

Face Me I Face You is a collection of poems existing at the interface of identity, class, and culture. It holds a mirror to the working class by capturing the narrative essence and dramatized aspirations of its characters. The deployed humor fondly humanizes our modern realities and reaches beyond the tragedy of these colorful archetypes of city life.

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Praise for Face Me I Face You

Poetry can sometimes be too challenging to comprehend or too profound to enjoy, but definitely not in Oyindamola Shoola’s Face Me, I Face You. This witty and beautifully illustrated collection of poems offers a fresh perspective on a family living in a shared housing setup, where neighbors' lives intertwine in unexpected and often humorous ways. The book explores themes of family, tradition, and everyday dramas that most of us will easily recognize. From the bustling streets to intimate domestic moments, this collection celebrates resilience, community, and the indomitable spirit of its characters in a way that will leave most readers smiling.

—S. Su'eddie Vershima Agema, Multiple Award-winning Author of Memory and the Call of Waters (Winner, Association of Nigerian Authors Poetry Prize 2022 and Finalist, Nigeria Prize for Literature 2022)