The True Blue of Islands is a collection of poems that, for the most part, explore violence. The book begins with the brutal treatment of Great-Granny Mac, a slave, then takes ironic account of “Sun flowers” who endure abuse as well as inflict it on themselves, and ends with the murder of the poet's brother. Harnessing a broad range of Jamaican idioms, the poet tackles her subject with occasional wry humour, superb craft and dreadful honesty. These poems are heartbreaking but, unfailing, they sing.