This newest collection of poems from Tomaz Salamun is exuberant, ambitious, and full of surprises. Here the devil is encountered and understood-
I see the devil's head, people, I see his whole body . . .
he longs for innocence, as we do.
Here the poet juggles many tones, languages, and countries. Desire is evoked as both frustrating and exhilarating-
I'm watered by longing, knocking my
head into the wall, on the ground, or I burn, burn,
folded up on the couch.
And memory comes back to remind us of the laws and experiences of childhood-
Once again you are let loose in the sea
only after five o'clock in the afternoon to take
a dose of sunlight like the ticking of the clock.
At once daring and clear-voiced, The Book for My Brother is an extraordinary achievement.
What emerges when a master poet holds desire, memory, and innocence up to a surreal, unwavering light?
- Avant-Garde Vision: A singular voice that juggles languages and landscapes, from the banks of the Nile to the streets of New York, creating a vibrant, borderless world.
- The Sacred and Profane: Confrontations with devils, saints, and childhood ghosts where innocence and experience are held in a beautiful, startling tension.
- Poems of Raw Desire: An unflinching exploration of longing--sometimes a fire on the couch, sometimes a knock against the wall--that is both frustrating and exhilarating.
- Masterful Translation: Experience the power and playfulness of one of Slovenia's most celebrated poets, brought to life in a vivid and clear-voiced English translation.
