Edward Dorn (1929–1999)

I always did love Dorn. I think this is one of his better works. Recommended.

I can't believe I had never read Cesar Vallejo before this. I feel humbled by my own ignorance. There are many other fantastic and surprising pieces in this collection - I particularly enjoyed the inclusion of the illustrated work by Patricia Galvao - but Vallejo is what really kicked my ass. Hats off to the translators for making his words so vivid and clear.

It's an epic poem.
It's an American epic poem.
Not only is it great, it is needed.

Most people would say that the epic poem is a dead art, pointing (perhaps) to Ezra Pound's Cantos as the last, feeble breath of the form. Edward Dorn's Gunslinger puts the lie to that. It's a powerful, humorous book. Wordplay and a strange, galloping rhythm make it a joy to read in a way that a lot of modern poetry isn't. It was written in the 1970s and shows it, but it's anything but dated. Highly recommended.