Pacific Northwestern Spiritual Poetry
by Various Poets
$20.00
Tsunami Inc.
Pacific Northwestern Spiritual Poetry
"A huge burst of energy, which in itself is invigorating, and it's refreshing to find so many writers (I notice that they're nearly all in their 40s and 50s) writing about their actual experiences, rather than standard literary subjects. These guys and gals are unmitigated rebels and to collect them all in one mammoth volume is kind of mind boggling."
Carl Rakosi
"Even if this anthology weren't stuffed to the gills and dorsal fins with superb poetry, I would recommend Pacific Northwestern Spiritual Poetry on the strength of editor Charles Potts invigorating introduction, "A Reason to Read" a wise, insightful proposal of modern-day poetics that rightfully places today's divergent voices in world poetry's canon in order to keep poetry vital and dynamic. Arguing anew the higher, sublime purpose of the poet, Potts reaffirms the poets rightful station as a prophet whose urgent voice must be heard more now than ever as our species is poised on the brink of ecological, economic, cultural, and spiritual disaster...Potts also urges that we embrace the poetics found in Native American traditions, the Buddhist concept of Mahamudra, and the theories of psychologists (such as the neo-Reichians) who practice the reconnection of emotion to the body to attain spiritual and psychological health. I dare say the four stages of Mahamudra alone should become required reading in any poetry workshop, writing class, or syllabus of literary theory...
As to the poetry, 62 poets in all prove that there is no cultural or experiential point of view too rarefied, no subject matter or style too inappropriate, and no length too great or small to encompass the keening unto heaven that transform the act of poetry from written and spoken expression to outright communion. The book is a veritable requiem mass sung by a choir of superb soloists...Recommended reading."