Like a Vermeer & Other Poems

It has been hard as hell trying to make love
to every blossoming lettuce-coral,
swirling acacia & eucalyptus grove,
every ringed nipple, pierced navel,
pearled tongue, inebriated rain lily,
& tangoing galaxy of your restive,
brazen Isadora Duncan Creation.

"This kind of Whitmanesque openness to experience continues in the poems of "Palace of Rimbaud" as well as "Palace of Marvin Gaye." Zaigham, who was first seduced by poetry in Urdu and now writes in English, has become a poet of the world-father, husband, lover-and enthusiast of the word. You will find welcome here."-Dave Mason, author of "The Buried Houses" and "The Country I Remember"

"From the very first poem with "grenadine suns in your tequila sunsets" to the line, "my poems are the only stardust of my ashes" to the very last poem where Yousuf Zaigham tells us "the poems came like a tempest of miracles, budded asters in their rosy florescence" this book is a feast of language and poetic diction that defies description. Open "Like a Vermeer" anywhere, and you will enjoy a veritable banquet of poetry that harkens back to the rich literary traditions of Urdu's great poets Ghalib & Josh."-James Ciletti, author of "At the Crack of Dawn"

"Zaigham's exuberant, chastening poems glory in and indict this world. His voice, full-throated, capering through the registers, is necessary and welcome. I will return to "Like a Vermeer and Other Poems" repeatedly"-Aaron Anstett, author of "No Accident & Sustenance"