Customer Reviews

Edible Amazonia: Twenty One Poems From God's Amazonian Recipe Book

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I read three or four books of poetry a week. It is a serious habit. Recently, I was invited to read poetry at a Jazz Brunch. In search of "food" poetry, I stumbled across this thin volume. I cannot over-recommend it. The poems achieve their effect through simplicity of language -- both in Spanish and in English -- and an almost naively simple device: political outrage stated through what are presented as recipes. I deeply admire most World Poetry because, unlike popular or academic American poetry, it is fundamentally political and manages to still be truly great. This is one of the most breathtaking examples I've read in a long time. Consider: 100 pages, 30 of them introductory material, the rest, facing-page translations. And I was still bowled over.

With a brillantly chosen, deceptive simplicity of words, the Amazon is brought to delicious and haunting life. Enter this magical mythic world and prepare to be spun around, astounded and challenged. Slyly humorous, deeply poignant,and politically insightful; it is reminiscent of the work of Pablo Neruda. The richness of the Amazon and the plight of that beautiful land will linger with you long after reading these poems.