The extraordinary poems in Ian McDonald's new collection emerged as 'blood emerges from a cut vein'. So the author describes the process of writing them in his Preface. This is his sixth collection of poems in a literary career which has gradually gained strength and recognition over the years. In his 80s, his creativity, far from diminishing, in this book reaches a new level of interest and inspiration. River Dancer is an important addition to Ian McDonald's work and a noteworthy contribution to Guyanese/Caribbean poetry.