In this noted anthology, the poet Adonis evokes the wisdom of Whitman s Leaves of Grass (which he liberally excerpts and remolds), the modernism of William Carlos Williams, and the haunting urban imagery of Baudelaire, Cavafy, and Lorca. Three long poems allow him to explore profoundly the human condition, by examining language and love, race and favor, faith and dogma, war and ruin. In the lyrical "This Is My Name " and "Introduction to the History of the Petty Kings, " Adonis ponders Arab defeat and defeatism. In "A Grave for New York, " he focuses on Vietnam-era America. Originally...
In this noted anthology, the poet Adonis evokes the wisdom of Whitman s Leaves of Grass (which he liberally excerpts and remolds), the modernism of Wi...