Even Blood

The final posthumous collection of Angel’s poetry offers spare lyrics set in an urban landscape that seems timeless, universal, and historical. In his own words, Ralph Angel described poetry as “the language for which we have no language.” Across his more than seven books of poetry, Angel’s work has been distinguished by his attention to the spare lyric, at once abstract and philosophical. These are poems that sit at the intersection of immediacy and meditation, offering a thoughtful companionship to the reader. Even Blood is Angel’s final collection of poems, distilling his lifelong engagement with poetry and showcasing the power of his vivid imagery, sharp diction, and attention to structure, no matter how slight.