The Uyghur minority in Central Asia have a long and glorious history of poetry, dating from the oral epics of the second century BCE through the elegant love poetry of the middle ages and up to the present moment-and most of it has never before been translated into English. The Chinese government is now making a systematic attempt to erase the Uyghur language and culture, with a particular emphasis on imprisoning intellectuals. Many current Uyghur poets are now writing from exile, including the editor of this volume, Aziz Isa Elkun, who lives in London. This is not only a remarkable one-volume tour of an ancient and vibrant poetic tradition but also a vital witness to a threatened culture.