His nakedly political poems are sung and recited at demonstrations and mass rallies; his poems about nuclear war, Vietnam, prisons, and racism have become part of the folklore of the Left. His poetry's simplicity, clarity, passion, and humor show his allegiance to a vital, popular tradition embracing William Blake, the Border Ballads, and the blues.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Mitchell, a novelist, playwright and lyricist who was first known in England as a pop and protest poet in the late '60s, will be 65 this year. The 180 poems here, many short, are arranged by theme (social commentary, poetry/arts, nature, etc.) and vary in quality. "Blood and Oil" decries Britain's military presence around the world as motivated largely by greed. Mitchell notes that most of the works "have been performed before being printed," a key to both their strength and weaknesses. The poems have the vigor of live performances, but often seem ephemeral, or directed to a large audience so that skill and mastery sometime slip into slapdash glibness. On more personal subjects--family and friends, animals and pets--he sets aside self-conscious posing and is at his best. Two poems, both about his penis, are informed with his disarming, conversational humor: "A Puppy Called Puberty" ("Jumping up, wet-nosed, eagerly wagging/ he only stopped being a nuisance/ when you were alone together") and in "A Dog Called Elderly" part of himself only wants to "spend the rest of his lifetime/ sleeping on my lap in front of the fire").
Copyright 1996 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
simple lines, great achievement,
By A Customer
This review is from: Blue Coffee: Poems 1985-1996 (Paperback)
adrian mitchell could never write a poem as good as his "tell me lies about vietnam" or so i thought. in blue coffee, a documentation of his more recent works to be followed up this year with a retrospective of his career up 10 1984, he achieves great concepts but with very 'working class' language - this is accessible to both the scholar and the brickie. this is no more evident than in his poem which contains the exquisite line "a bus says us, while a car says me" from the poem "Yes". although in places the metaphor may be seem a little twee, and cannot surpass the quality housed in his "greatest hits" collection, this is a sturdy book outlining a almost more relaxed output of a poet reaching 65.
To me his works spell out a note of potential freedom to express oneself, i.e. that if he can do it, anyone can. This may seem a backhanded compliment, but i believe that adrian mitchell's true ideal is for a nation of poets.
i saw him perform his poems at the wedgewood rooms in portsmouth, a nice arts venue near to me a bout 2 and a half years ago. i really feel that my life changed a bit that night - i felt that i could achieve something beit with poetry or any medium that takes my fancy.
mitchell has been inspirational to others as well as me and this book shows it, but for a total understanding of hsi appeal - his "greatest hits" must be read.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Must Read...,
By A Customer
This review is from: Blue Coffee: Poems 1985-1996 (Paperback)
Blue Coffee, spanning eleven years of Mitchell's work if both inspiring and diverse, taking on many different subjects. As a line from 'a Flower for Boty' reads, to me, Mitchell's poetry can only be described as:"Eloquent art speaking straight to the heart"
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