BOOK REVIEW: The Black Panther is an African Cat--Poems of Exploration and Testimony

'Prowess' is a beautiful poetic tribute to tennis champions Venus and Serena Williams, perhaps the best writing in the collection.  However, Mondo's purity of African consciousness adds a critical footnote.  "Written before these sisters lost an appreciation of the wooly hair that Mother Africa endowed them with, before they began mutilating (straightening) their hair and Europeanizing themselves in other ways."

Mondo's ninety year-old mother is the subject of the most poignant poem in the book.  'Maito, Walking With Me All This Time'.  The poem speaks of a mother's love and loyalty while the poet "continue paying on a debt that I did not owe."  The "sure caress of a mother's love" was there to comfort while "passing through dark halls where not knowing smelled like mildew and sounded like a muffled justice mumbling."

The slender volume also contains blues poetry, talks of Egypt and Africa, and longs for the company of women.

'I Don't Step in the Water' is the last poem. 

"There is a place

between the building I'm caged in

and the one where the slop is served

where when it rains

two puddles form

….

puddles that form a map

of Africa

….

I do not splash through

but walk around

out of respect

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