Slave Moth: A Narrative in Verse

A slave girl's mesmerizing quest for freedom by one of America's most unique poets. From Thylias Moss, whose poetry has so stunningly described the joys and struggles of identity in the contemporary world, comes Slave Moth, a book-length poem that follows Varl, a slave in the antebellum South, on her path to freedom. Driven by her mastery of language and the power it gives her over her ostensible superiors, Varl is an unforgettable creation. Slave Moth is an explosion of life in the face of servitude. Full of magical anecdotes and written in riveting verse, it revolves around a series of confrontations that impel Varl towards independence. Replete with fascinating historical detail, this work again shows Moss to be "a visionary storyteller" (Charles Simic) and confirms her place as a "permanent American poet" (Harold Bloom).