Fire In My Head

From the renowned Booker Prize-winning author, a powerful collection of poems covering topics of the day, such as the refugee crisis, Black Lives Matter protests, and COVID-19.

In our times of crisis
The mind has its powers


This book brings together many of Ben Okri's most acclaimed and politically charged poems.

"Grenfell Tower, June 2017," published in the Financial Times less than ten days after the fire, was played more than 6 million times on Facebook, and was retweeted by thousands on Twitter.

"Notre-Dame Is Telling Us Something" was first read on BBC Radio 4, in the aftermath of the cathedral's near destruction. It spoke eloquently of the despair that was felt around the world.

In "shaved head poem," Okri wrote of the confusion and anxiety felt as the world grappled with a health crisis unprecedented in our times.

"Breathing the Light" was his response to the events of summer 2020, when a Black man died beneath the knee of a white policeman, a tragedy sparking a movement for change.

These poems, and others including poems for Ken Saro-Wiwa, Barack Obama, Amnesty, and more, make this a uniquely powerful collection that blends anger and tenderness with Okri's inimitable vision.