Resurrecting Knives (Salt Modern Poets S.) [Hardcover]

Vincent De Souza (Author)

Book Description

Series: Salt Modern Poets S. | Publication Date: December 20, 2008

The knives are out. Poetry declares hand-to-hand guerrilla war on conservative aesthetics, political correctness and boundaries imposed on art. In "Resurrecting Knives" De Souza dissects the conventional anatomy of the poem and fashions a new set of intellectual, technical and visual dynamics. Where the American Beat writing experimentalists put work to the sword, randomly cutting up and reforming statements into patchwork poetics - this writing takes on the idea and develops it into a method for strategically cutting into the body of the poem to allow for the insertion of different textures of language and thought. Without resorting to bludgeoning or violence, the author deftly applies a surgical scalpel to make neat cuts around titles or stanzas and into these virtual spaces flow lifeblood of diary entry, film scene descriptions and poetic theory grafted effortlessly into the poem. A meditation on the nature of human violence dovetails into the climactic hall of mirrors combat scene of Bruce Lee in "Enter The Dragon"! A contemplation on the design of the Bowie knife cuts dramatically into a motorcycle gang's knife skill contest in "The Loveless"! The poem narrator's regret of hurling fiery verbal abuse suddenly slices into the scene-set with Clint Eastwood directing his gunslinger's stare before shooting down murderous bandits in "A Fistful of Dollars". This use of what De Souza describes as the "cut-in technique" is evident in poetry throughout this very adventurous second collection. At the same time, these experiments sit alongside an equally potent set of more conventional poems which continue to explore his favoured themes of the loss of childhood innocence, English landscape, the corrupt nature of business culture and the hedonistic intensity of London.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Vincent De Souza studied English and Philosophy at the University of East Anglia and worked for several years as an advertising copywriter. His interest in motorcycles lead him on a number of road journeys, culminating in a ten country tour starting in Norway and leading into southern Europe. His work has been widely published in the UK poetry press and he has won 8 awards, 2 in high profile poetry competitions.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 80 pages
• Publisher: Salt Publishing (December 20, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1844715000
• ISBN-13: 978-1844715008
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.2 ounces