Horse Latitudes is another outrageous collection by Robert Dunn, arguably the most irritating poet in New York City. If you've ever been to a dinner party where you yearned to pull the chair out from behind someone you can't stand while he's sitting down, this is the book for you. You may pass "GO," but don't pass this one up.

"Whispers of a Secret God" chronicles a clash of three sub-Saharan cultures battling for dominance in a tangle of drought, famine, and land rights. Slavery and dislocation have exacted a heavy toll, reshuffling ancient social boundaries and challenging long-held religious practices. Whereas stereotypical African villages evoke images of savagery, brutality, and superstition, the Fula tribes developed a more peaceful and rule-governed Muslim society. Honor and courage throbbed in their hearts.

The saga derives its title from the muddled vestiges of Christianity surviving from somewhere in...

Forget the title of one of Robert Dunn's previous books, "Cannon Fodder." His poems aren't that. It's just Mr. Dunn being humble again. They're real gems. For example, "'Fig Leaf Rag: Adam and Eve, when banished from Eden/donned their finest traveling fig leaves. /If it had been revenge-hungry me, /I'd have worn snakeskin.'" His humor and craftsmanship are a perfect blend. His poems weren't just written to make you laugh-though they accomplish that non-stop-but also to shake up your view of reality. Robert replaces philosophy with common sense, like in "'On Pragmatism' A metaphysical editor...