Before the Rain

By Christine Craig

In this collection of poems and short stories, Christine Craig reflects on the experiences of a long life while observing the dramas that shape the lives of others. Her work confronts cruelty, inequality and the abuse of power, yet remains rooted in hope, celebrating the resourcefulness of Jamaican " aunties", the pleasures of a garden nurtured by a " horticultural hooligan", and the contributions of migrants and refugees who sustain and enrich communities. Rich in sensory detail, her poetry captures the textures of everyday life and finds beauty and meaning in every stage of living. The stories traverse Jamaica, the United States and London, exploring arrivals, departures and encounters across cultures. Relationships are shaped by differences of race, class and politics, while other narratives reveal the realities faced by those, particularly women, living with poverty and discrimination. In " Shaking the Family Tree", a young German-Jewish refugee and a West Indian serviceman meet in wartime London, their connection offering hope against a backdrop of loss. Here is fiction with a poet's eye and poetry with a storyteller's gift.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1845236092
• ISBN13: 9781845236090
• Release Date: September 2026
• Publisher: Peepal Tree Press Ltd.
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 0.53 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.3" x 8.1"