Customer Reviews

Egyptian Compass

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. . . wonderful to hold and to look at, as well as to read. Egyptian Compass orients readers across human landscapes imaged as intimate personal and historic events that circulate between Egypt and the United States, and between Arabic and English. Kaldas' writings, such as "Dust Bowl," "Ramadan Walk," "Leap to Grasp," and "Bird Lessons," leave a lasting impression.

Kaldas's first book of poetry is quite stunning in that the narrative langague shifts like numerous border crossings and the poem's syntax moves like the needles on a compass. The book is experimental in a manner that doesn't call too much attention to the innovative quality of the work. The work is accesible and at the same time challenging. Kaldas is doing what more American poets need to be doing, and that is pushing the rhythms and meaning of both language and its collision with culture.