The Kind of Poetry I Like: Ongoing Biblio 2

Continued from here.

• Octavio Paz, Sunstone/Piedra De Sol. New Directions Publishing, 1991.
• Rachel Zucker, The Last Clear Narrative. Wesleyan University Press, 2004.
• Ernst Jandl, Reft and Light: Poems by Ernst Jandl With Multiple Versions by American Poets (Dichten =, No. 4). Burning Deck, 2000.
• Sarith Peou, Corpse Watching. Tinfish Press, 2007.
• Susan Stewart, Columbarium. University of Chicago Press, 2005.
• Harryette Mullen, Recyclopedia: Trimmings, S*PeRM**K*T, and Muse & Drudge. Graywolf Press, 2006.
• Paolo Manalo, Jolography. University of the Philippines Press, 2003.
• Tyehimba Jess, leadbelly. Wave Books, 2005.

To be continued.

Poetry Books : Weekend Reading : Ongoing Biblio

Found used books at Moe’s Books on Telegraph Avenue yesterday evening:

• Jimmy Santiago Baca, Black Mesa Poems. New Directions Publishing, 1989.
• Sesshu Foster, City Terrace Field Manual. Kaya Press, 1996. (Excerpts can be found at the Modern American Poetry website here.)
• Haunani-Kay Trask, Light in the Crevice Never Seen. Calyx Books, 1994.

These, along with Andrés Montoya’s the iceworker sings and other poems, are my weekend reading. I started Foster’s book last night as well, and it’s interesting to be reading Foster and Montoya concurrently, as their concepts of City are similar, and challenging my concept of City. Whereas even in the margins of SF, there still is to me this sense of city limits like a corral or pen, Foster and Montoya have sprawl, and certainly, City in Central Valley and Southern California sprawl in terms of geographical space and folk making and/or finding community and work.

Let my discussion on sprawl here not be interpreted as “the opposite of dense”; both poets’ bodies of work are dense with concrete details and sharp objects, blood, bullets, drugs/booze, and with poetic speakers who are both in the thick of it and then stepping back ever so slightly to bear witness, to think about perspective. Surprising, scary, violent shit happens in City; you wonder how to prepare for it, whether you really can.

OK. More later.

The Kind of Poetry I Like: Ongoing Biblio

Inspired by Charles Bernstein’s blog post of the same title (though those of you who know me may also already know this):

• Craig S. Perez, from unincorporated territory, Tinfish Press, 2008 (forthcoming).
• Frances Chung, Crazy Melon and Chinese Apple, Walter Lew, Ed. Wesleyan University Press, 2000.
• Haunani-Kay Trask, Night Is a Sharkskin Drum. University of Hawaii Press, 2002.
• Linh Dinh, Borderless Bodies. Factory School, 2006.
• Jaime Jacinto, Heaven is Just Another Country. Kearny Street Workshop, 1996.
• Suheir Hammad, ZaatarDiva. Cypher, 2005.
• Adrian Castro, Cantos to Blood and Honey. Coffee House, 1997.
• Catalina Cariaga, Cultural Evidence. ‘A’A Arts, 1999.
• Truong Tran, dust and conscience. Apogee Press, 2002.
• Anne Waldman, Fast Speaking Woman: Chants and Essays. City Lights Books, 1996.
• Ntozake Shange, For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf: A Choreopoem. Collier Books Macmillan, 1989.

To be continued.