Exploring the concept of 'home,' this collection of poems delves into the experiences of those navigating homophobia, stereotypes, and xenophobia. Rajiv Mohabir employs a powerful voice that challenges oppression and celebrates resilience, illustrating the struggle to thrive despite societal challenges. The work is firmly rooted in specific historical contexts, offering a poignant reflection on survival and identity.
Winner of the Restless Books Prize for New Immigrant Writing, Rajiv Mohabir's Antiman is a stunning hybrid memoir that blends literary genres to tackle questions of caste, ethnicity, and sexuality, and to explore the author's experiences as an Indo-Guyanese queer poet and immigrant to the United States.
Exploring the connection between human experiences and the natural world, this collection presents an interspecies opera centered on humpback whales as symbols of queer, migratory identities. The poet translates whale vocalizations into verse, reflecting on themes of postcolonial queerness and ecological fate. As the speaker journeys across various global landscapes, the poems resonate with kinship and shared struggles, juxtaposing the return of whales to New York with the plight of undocumented individuals. The work emphasizes the enduring power of song and the possibility of renewal amid adversity.