Subjects:  1. American - Hispanic American    2. Gay    3. Gay Studies    4. General    5. Poetry    6. Poetry / General   

Reviews (1)

Unprepared for This
I was unprepared for the impact of this anthology.I hoped for an entertaining read but it was more like a punch in the polar plexus.This is simply one of the most powerful poetry collections I have had the pleasure of reading.I cannot recommend it enough.Xavier has always been a master poet but his editorial skills are astonishing as he pulls together the best of the best.If words could catch paper on fire this book could burn down every bookstore and library in the world. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 21st century    2. American - General    3. American poetry    4. Anthologies (multiple authors)    5. Gay    6. Gays' writings, American    7. Homosexuality    8. Oral interpretation of poetry    9. Poetry   

Subjects:  1. American poetry    2. Anthologies (multiple authors)    3. Gay & Lesbian    4. Gay Studies    5. Gays' writings, American    6. Lesbians    7. Literary Criticism    8. Literatures    9. Poetry    10. United States    11. Literature of special Gay & Lesbian interest    12. Poetry texts & anthologies   

Reviews (7)

SHOULDN'T MATTER WHO YOU CHOOSE TO LOVE
"Behold A Pale Horse" is the most tragic and hopeless book I have ever read. It is so sad because it is actually a true story. Although it is a fictitious tale, it is based on true events.
Heart touching story
I first read this book back in 1984.I cried....
Behold a Pale Horse
This is a terrific piece of writing,and a tribute to the human spirit.Mr Reed tells the story of how a Jewish Homosexual survives the horrific experience ofbeing a prisoner in Nazi concentration camps.His hero survives in order to tell the story of the inhuman treatment of people at the hands of the Nazis.Mr Reed has told that story beautifully.My only disappointment is that I can not find any other books writtenby Mr Reed ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. Poetry   

Subjects:  1. American Contemporary Poetry (Anthologies)    2. General    3. Literature - Classics / Criticism    4. Poetry    5. Women As Authors (American Literature)   

Subjects:  1. American - General    2. Lesbians    3. Poetry    4. Poetry texts & anthologies   

Reviews (5)

AMAZING. The most Spiritual poetry book I've read!
The thing that a lot of people sometimes forget about poetry is that when it's good, the poems become a part of your soul. Poems lift you up when you need lifting and bring you down when you need grounding.
why isn't it in more stores!?my favorite book!
~*AMAZING*~ My girlfriend loved TALKING IN THE DARK and MADE me read it, which I don't usually do.She said I would like it because I like poetry, which is sort of true lately.But it took me months to find it in a store before my mom bought it online for me... since I don't have a credit cared, duh.But it's great.I haven't read anything like it before.And my girlfriend likes me to read her parts, especially SHHH and HISTORYS.Guys, buy this book for your girlfriends (or boyfriends).

Touching life experiences with surprising vulnerability
I'm a little confused as to this book's classification as YA. Sure, there were sections that dealt with his childhood, but the most straightforward, poignant, and powerful poems were those that dealt with very mature topics: specifically, *after* he graduated from high school.
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Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Young Adult Misc. Nonfiction    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Coming out (Sexual orientation)    4. Gay youth    5. Juvenile Nonfiction    6. Poetry    7. Poetry (Young Adult)    8. Poetry - General    9. Social Issues - Emotions & Feelings    10. Social Issues - Homosexuality    11. Juvenile Nonfiction / Poetry / General   

Reviews (1)

A powerful and passionate work of art.
Native American poet Chrystos was born in 1946 in San Francisco and is part of a group classified by the Federal Government as "urban indians."Remarkably self-educated and a brilliant artist as well as a writer, Chrystos, in Not Vanishing, sets out to dispel the common stereotypes, myths, and misconceptions that are associated with Native people as well as to educate her readers on how issues of oppression, class, gender, and colonialism have affected the Native American culture.Like her contemporaries, Joy Harjo and Simon Ortiz, Chrystos utters a poetic voice that is exceptionally powerfull and also remarkably distinctive.In her own words, Chrystos states, "My purpose is to make it as clear & as inescapably as possible, what the actual material conditions of out lives are" (i).This sort of overt, political agenda provides a stark, realistic insight into contemporary Native life and a unique approach that perhaps has only been paralled by Paula Gunn Allen.Dealing with such issues as poverty, homosexuality, drug addiction, and urban decadence, Chrystos creates an urgency in her poetry calling for a return to ritual and tribal spirituality that upheld the Native culture before the appearance of whites on American soil.There is also in her poetry, an expression of an existing economic oppression in which Native American workers desperately cling to infertile tribal lands while trying to make a living off of facsimiles of their own cultural and religious artifacts, thuscontributing to their own exploitation.Balancing off the direct, sometimes angry, fierce tone are the aesthetic poems which sharply contrast her political verse and reveal her depth and creativity as a versatile poet.Through these poems, Chrystos explores her own sensuality and yearning for spiritual renewal with nature imagery and deeply poignant moments of reflection. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Fiction - General    2. Lesbian    3. Poetry   

Editorial Review

Rafael Campo seems to have recognized early on that, likeWilliam Carlos Williams, his work as a physician gives him entry intowhat Williams called "the secret gardens of the self." No wonder Campo's bestpoetry has always drawn on his knowledge of the human body and his informedcompassion for the sick. But if the ghost of Williams hovers over the pages ofRead more

Reviews (2)

CANDID EROTICISM
In "Diva," Rafael Campo brings to life the issues that color the world today with bold and touching lines of poetry and prose. Campo's palpable language not only invites but envelopes the reader into his worldof pain and anguish, loves and passions-- and the everyday happenstances oflife in America and abroad.A doctor by profession, Campo stitches the rawrealities of the medical world with the ever-impending emotional tuggingthat comes along with the social stigmas associated with incurableillnesses such as AIDS. Campo delicately treads on the balance betweenexperience and observation, leading the reader to a heightened awareness ofthe world around her/him and an empathetic eye to those who share it.

CANDID EROTICISM
In "Diva," Rafael Campo brings to life the issues that color the world today with bold and touching lines of poetry and prose. Campo's palpable language not only invites but envelopes the reader into his worldof pain and anguish, loves and passions-- and the everyday happenstances oflife in America and abroad.A doctor by profession, Campo stitches the rawrealities of the medical world with the ever-impending emotional tuggingthat comes along with the social stigmas associated with incurableillnesses such as AIDS. Campo delicately treads on the balance betweenexperience and observation, leading the reader to a heightened awareness ofthe world around her/him and an empathetic eye to those who share it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. AIDS (Disease)    2. American - General    3. Hispanic American gays    4. Hispanic Americans    5. Patients    6. Poetry    7. Poetry & poets   

Reviews (1)

An Excellent Gift
This volume contains a fine selection of poems by well know poets, and newcomers.All are accessable, and many are amusing and memorable.The small size of the volume makes it perfect for a gift.Or, you may want keep it by your bed and use it to get aquainted with the current gay poetry scene. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Gay men's writings    2. Love poetry    3. Poetry    4. Sexuality In Literature    5. Works by individual poets: from c 1900 -   

Subjects:  1. American - General    2. Fiction - General    3. Lesbian    4. Lesbians    5. Literary collections    6. Poetry    7. Working class women    8. American English    9. Biography: general    10. Lesbian studies    11. Works by individual poets: from c 1900 -   

Reviews (12)

A Poet's Poet
I am late coming to this book, but recently a friend of mine heard Young read at a writer's conference and recommended I check it out.It is a beautiful book.As a poet myself trying to get a book published, reading this book made me realize that the bar can be quite high.What I admired most in these poems is the quiet and restrained voice.It is that "voice" that allows Young to make bold assertions, not just of vision, but of feeling.Young does sometimes skirt the sentimental, but I don't believe he ever crosses the line into sentimentality.There is always just enough self-doubt and self-loathing, if you can call it that, that saves these poems from sentimentality.In arguably one of his best poems, "On Privilege," he gives us a scene of incredible splendor.It is unfair to compare him to Derek Walcott, but we have few others who have written about the Caribbean."On Privilege" is filled with the kind of breath-taking detail we know from Walcott's work, but this poem also holds a disturbing relationship between the speaker and his family, between the speaker and the very scene he describes. Not an Interesting Book
I have to say that this is the one truly bad book of poems I've read in the past year. Not mediocre, not disappointing, but actively bad; a lyricism lapsing everywhere into the sentimental, trite emotion (and emotionalism), formal sloppiness and an absolute lack of originality. Most of these poems--and the images they contain--look like first drafts, the first things that would occur to a not-especially talented MFA student, and all travel ground that at this point in the history of American poetry has been traveled a million times already. Less than stellar
Some nice images here, but little else. Many of the poems in this book are sterile and dull. This is the type of poetry that convinces people that Poetry is academic and boring. Young clearly had too much fun with histories, dictionaries, and a thesaurus. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American - General    2. Caribbean Area    3. Poetry    4. Poetry / Single Author / American    5. Gay men    6. Postcolonialism   

Subjects:  1. American - General    2. Poetry    3. Women's Studies    4. Lesbian   

Reviews (1)

Words Remain
Black, feminist, lesbian, mother, and warrior poet are all words that Audre Lorde used to describe herself.Her professional accomplishments are unquestionable; she authored several collections of poetry, was a National Book Award nominee, published a work of fiction that she called a biomythography, was a professor, editor and publisher.Her personal life was also quite complicated; it included difficult childhood, growing up legally blind, and her battle with cancer.CONVERSATIONS WITH AUDRE LORDE helps readers better understand Lorde as an individual and bring deeper meaning to the dichotomous aspects of her personality.
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Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. American - African American & Black    3. American - General    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Feminist    7. Feminists    8. Interviews    9. Lesbians    10. Literary    11. Literature - Classics / Criticism    12. Lorde, Audre    13. Poetry    14. Poets, American    15. United States   

Reviews (1)

The best Gay Anthology EVER!
This is simply the best book of its kind.It provides definite proof, ACTUAL POEMS!You'll be astonished by these very famous poets who, previously unknown to you, wrote homosexual verse--at times, very explicitly homosexual verse, at that.Enjoy ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Fiction    2. Gay    3. Gays' writings    4. Homosexuality    5. Poetry    6. Sexuality In Literature    7. Poetry texts & anthologies   

Reviews (1)

So Many Stars
Marvin K. White, Redbone Press's first male publish, follows up his startlingly impressive and Lambda Award nominated 'last rights' with this arrangement that is less an organized collection of poems than it is a photobox brimming with pictures or a sky bejewelled with stars.White's stripped works indicate the author's evolution via his distinctive technique and voice-here never better-as the book bypasses one common theme to allow its poetry to come at the reader from various angles and subjects, impacting with captivating clarity.Reflective, many of the poems are moving.First David is a gem, and Wayne's Blues is memorable and heartbreaking, as is Aaron.Don't Touch That Dial, Cherry, and Anthem deftly exhibits White's agility in combining humor with imagery, but his talent shines brightest when he dissects human emotion, particularly in the sobering and determined Nothin' Ugly Fly, the tender and tear-jerking Again and Unk, the passionate Mister's Blues, the tragic Whosoever, and the inspirational The Children.Poems from this sophomore offering will certainly continue to define White's unique cannon of work, and it should be said that the brightest among these stars is Third Ring in a Circus, a work sharp, spare and immediately legendary; so powerful it should be engraved on something.
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Subjects:  1. African American gay men    2. American - General    3. General    4. Nonfiction    5. Poetry   

Reviews (4)

Intriguing, sensual, borderline controversial, and intense.
This collection of poetry written by gay authors is a collaboration of the sensual, the emotional, the controversial, and the satisfying aspects of everyday life as a homosexual. Some of the poems deal with heavy emotions of love and rejection, while others regail past experiences that leave the author feeling relieved and the reader feeling exhuberant. There are poems that will uplift you, poems that will make you go "Ugh!" and poems that will make you think about their content, analyzing it until you can only think about the personal meaning behind every line. This collection is brilliantly composed by Gavin Geoffrey Dillard, who also includes some of his poetry, and he has done a masterful job of giving us a collection that inspires pride and emotion is everyone who reads it. Don't miss this book!

Already submitted......A Century of Gay Poetry
This is not a review, I already submitted a review on the 30th of May, 2000 But I wanted to sumit a correction in the body of my review. I mentioned the poem "How to watch your brother die" and Iattributed it to the wrong poet, the poet is Lassell, NOT Michaud. Thankyou for letting me suggesting this correction in the body fo the review.And I understand that it best to let readers rate the number of stars inthe rating system......forgoing contributors in this anthology, who may bebiased. Thank you...for this opportunity to reach out in your space here atAmazon.com

A Century of Great Gay Poetry
The amazing thing about this anthology is that it combines poets who were born before our Civil War here in the USA and baby boomers poets.This is a remarkable international gathering of poets, from France, Genet; fromEngland, Edward Carpenter; Japan, Takahashi; Spain, Lorca; ...to name afew. I learned a lot about gay poets from this anthology and I searched formore poems in other collections from my two favorite poets in thiscollection, Lorca and Carpenter; and really enjoyed what I found. It wasthis collection that opened up the world of gay poets to me and I thankGavin Dillard for the care he took in assembling this volume. I am veryexcited to have been included in this volume, and would like to hear fromothers who have been included in these pages, and Readers who like whatthey see here in this book. I thank Amazon.com for providing this networkfor those interested in the world of literature. I would like to thankMichaud for his poem, "How To Watch Your Brother Die" a poem thatdeeply touched me. I am out of the closet in this reveiw as far as mye-mail goes, people wishing to connect with me can do so at:vytautasp@aol.com ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Anthologies (multiple authors)    3. Gay Studies    4. Gay men    5. Gay men's writings    6. Poetry    7. Poetry, Modern    8. Literature of special Gay interest    9. Poetry anthologies: from c 1900 -   

Subjects:  1. American - General    2. Feminism    3. Lesbians    4. Poetry    5. Social problems    6. Women   

Subjects:  1. American    2. American Contemporary Poetry    3. Gay men    4. Poetry   

Reviews (2)

A Welcome New Voice
I had the good fortune to hear Mr. Covino read some of these poems at a recent writers' conference.At the time, I was overwhelmed by the passionate intensity of his reading, and could only speculate on his state of mind when he wrote them.Having since read them myself, I find the words often "jump" from the page -- due to the highly-emotional nature of the work.Every reader will respond to a work of art somewhat differently, and I, for one, saw two overarching themes:the psychopathology of the nuclear family, and Mr. Covino's ultimate redemption and reconciliation of that long-endured pain through his embrace of Art. His sensitive soul somehow learned to seek salvation in the World of Art, to which he makes frequent reference.That World provided a prism through which he could better understand both himself and those around him. We should all be grateful that he decided to join that World and become the fascinating wordsmith he reveals himself to be in this volume.

A Poet for the Times
I was lucky enough to hear Peter read from his book as well as from a few new pieces. The experience blew my mind. Peter has the ability to make you laugh and cry in a single poem. He touches us in a way to excite as well proclaim our weaknesses.
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Subjects:  1. American - General    2. General    3. Poetry    4. Poetry / Single Author / American    5. Adult child sexual abuse victims    6. Gay poets    7. Italian American authors    8. New York (N.Y.)