Shadows and Ghosts

A collection of writing spanning two decades, these poems and short essays sketch the changing landscape of the twentieth century. From Prohibition to the Beat writers, from the evolution of jazz and blues to race riots, from the struggle for daily bread to the search for holy meaning, these freeform works offer a energetic and personal portrait of the touchstones of American culture. The poet writes of William Carlos Williams, Jackson Pollack, Miles Davis - "dark sunglasses in a jazz club at three o'clock / in the morning." He makes French toast, he plays a game of chess while listening to long--lost radio shows, revealing the past through images from his own childhood, daring to "venture towards forgotten and lost territory" of the memory. This is a singular assortment from a bold voice, the contribution of a deeply thoughtful artist and poet to the culture that made him.