The Book for My Brother - Paperback

by Tomaz Salamun (Author)

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 . . .

Here the poet juggles many tones, languages, and countries. Desire is evoked as both frustrating and exhilarating-

head into the wall, on the ground, or I burn, burn,

And memory comes back to remind us of the laws and experiences of childhood-

only after five o'clock in the afternoon to take

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.

Back Jacket

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 all 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.
Bio: Tomaz Salamun has published more than thirty books of poetry. His work has been translated into almost every European language. He lives in Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Praise:
"One of the indispensable poets of the era...A poet whom one feels has a heart so open and an ear so pure, he might have answers in even the darkest times." --Jorie Graham
"The most celebrated Slovenian poet of his generation..his poems manifest a wry, deprecative humor, alternately acerbic and playful; a gift for remarkable images and detail, both surreal and quotidian; and an acute sensitivity to the astounding variety of the world and of history." --Boston Review
"