Poetry. "Bob Perelman's writing covers a lot of (image) territory as fast as a speeding missile which may (almost) be fast enough. His new book, CAPTIVE AUDIENCE, finds us glued to our seats, laughing at death and the devil again." Rae Armantrout"

"Hotel Theory" is two books in one: a meditation on the meaning of hotels, and a dime novel ("Hotel Women") featuring Lana Turner and Liberace. Typical of Wayne Koestenbaum' s invigoratingly inventive style, the two books - one fiction, one nonfiction - run concurrently, in twin columns, and the articles " a, " " an, " and " the" never appear. The nonfiction ruminations on hotels are divided into eight dossiers, composed of short takes on the presence of hotels in the author' s dreams as well as in literature, film, and history. Guest stars include everyone from Oscar Wilde to Marilyn Monroe. "Hotel Theory" gives (divided) voice to an aesthetic of hyperaesthesia, of yearning. It is an oblique manifesto, the place where writing disappears. A new mode of theorizing - in fiction, in fragment, through quotation and palimpsest - arises in this dazzling work.

The character of a person, and the worth of a poet, may be judged by how he or she comes to terms with death. David Ignatow, not in his late 70s, faces the prospect of death squarely and speaks with quiet authority of his puzzlement, anger, grief, and ultimate acceptance. In 66 short poems, that together form one monumental work, Ignatow describes what it is to grow old--the isolation, loss of loved ones, idle hours, long walks --and ponders the elemental conundrum of ceasing to exist: "Why was I born if I have to die,/ buzzed the fly, and buzzed and buzzed." He demonstrates his greatness as a poet when he moves beyond somberness to turn the awe of death into a heightened awareness of life and a force that clarifies how we should spend our brief time on this earth. Divided into three sections, Ignatow's conversational meditations are at first ironic and humorous as he addresses "you fool of a cosmos." He then becomes more personal, considering what his dead parents would think of him as a white-haired old man, recalling the "silent company" of the last years with his aging wife, realizing that "it is death to be alone." Ultimately, he finds solace in the natural world--the sound of rain, smell of grass, warmth of sunshine. Without becoming sentimental or mystical, he sees that death is much the glory and handiwork of god (if there be one) as are the mountains and the flowers, which will also die. The poet turns from self-absorption, sadness and regret to see death's power as a reflection of life's wonder: "I look/ out upon the dark, knowing/ death as one form/ of transcendence, but/ so is life."

âeoeOn the Way to Willowdale: Being Other Songs From a Georgia Garden, With Sonnet Interludesâe is a collection of poems by Robert Loveman, showcasing his lyrical style and deep appreciation for nature. Loveman, often compared to Robert Browning, infuses his work with vivid imagery and emotional depth. This collection presents a diverse range of subjects, from the delicate beauty of 'Morning Glories' and 'Sally Dahlia' to the dramatic intensity of a comet and tempest. Loveman's romantic sensibilities shine through in poems addressing themes of love and loss, such as 'slain my love, ' 'Mary Marigold, ' and 'Juliet.' The included sonnet interludes offer moments of introspective beauty, capturing fleeting moments of 'rapture' and 'ecstasy.' With its evocative language and timeless themes, "On the Way to Willowdale" remains a testament to Loveman's contribution to American poetry, inviting readers to revel in the 'SKIES AND BUTTERFLIES' and the 'toy of joy' found within the Georgia landscape. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

[Poems form] a tale of Jewish assimilation and its discontents: a sweeping exposition on Jewish American culture in all its bawdy, contradictory, inventive, glory. Exploring -- in his own family and in culture and politics at large -- how Jews have shed their minority status in the United States, poet Kevin Coval show us a people's transformation out of diaspora, landing on bothe sides of the color line--From back cover.

Everything Must Go is an illustrated collection of poems in the spirit of a graphic novel, a collaboration between poet Kevin Coval and illustrator Langston Allston. The book celebrates Chicago's Wicker Park in the late 1990's, Coval's home as a young artist, the ancestral neighborhood of his forebears, and a vibrant enclave populated by colorful characters. Allston's illustrations honor the neighborhood as it once was, before gentrification remade it. The book excavates and mourns that which has been lost in transition and serves as a template for understanding the process of displacement and reinvention currently reshaping American cities.

Satirical poetry which includes poems about the Nixon years and the Reagan reign