Customer Reviews

Eagle or Sun

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"Eagle or Sun?" is a collection of prose poems by the great Mexican poet Octavio Paz. Several of the short pieces represent a sort of hybrid form between the poem and the essay; others seem to represent a melding of the poem and the short story. Although Paz can be obscure, and even somewhat indulgent, at times, "Eagle or Sun?" is marked by flashes of brilliance which make it an important piece of 20th century literature.

Some of the book's highlights included section X of "The Poet's Works," a nightmarish vision of language gone awry; "The Blue Bouquet," which is undoubtedly one of the greatest horror stories ever written in any language; and "My Life with the Wave," a surreal fantasy story that is rich in irony. "Eagle or Sun?" may not be easy reading, but it is a rewarding and memorable work from one of Mexico's most important writers.

A superb collection of early writings from 1949-50, Paz explores Mexico from three fronts, past, present and future. Influenced by Surrealists his prose is vivid and colorful as he explores the relationship between language and poet, reality and language and his vision of the past. His exploration of the apocalytic future, as foretold by the Aztec calendar stone is haunting. The world lost a great poet but his works live on for future generations.

Best poetry and a good translation. As "A Draft of Shadows" (translated by Weinberger also), it worths the reading. These books both are the best Paz's poetry... light on the other side... beating.