- Publisher: Old Gold Soul Press
- ISBN: 978-1-967664-14-6
The Collected Poetry of Rashid Darden
What does it mean to spend thirty years writing your way toward yourself?
In The Testaments: 1995–2025, acclaimed Black queer writer Rashid Darden gathers three decades of poetry into one unforgettable collection. Across eight books, he chronicles first love, heartbreak, friendship, family, faith, desire, loss, and the hard-won joy of becoming fully himself.
These poems are intimate without looking away from the world. They explore what it means to be Black, to love deeply, to wrestle with God, to survive disappointment, and to keep choosing hope. Some are tender. Others are funny, sensual, or fiercely honest. Together, they tell the story of a life lived with curiosity, conviction, and compassion.
Influenced by Baldwin, Giovanni, and Baraka, yet unmistakably his own, Darden writes with warmth, wit, and emotional clarity. Whether you are discovering his work for the first time or returning to poems you’ve loved before, The Testaments invites you into a conversation about love, identity, faith, and what it means to become the person you were meant to be.
Available only in paperback.