The heart of this collection is a cycle of Chile poems by "the Pablo Neruda of North American authors" (Sandra Cisneros).
In his eighth collect... read full description
In his eighth collect... read full description
reviews
Nov 20, 2008
Tim
rated it: 
The Republic of Poetry
The Republic of Poetry
by Martín Espada
Hardcover 96 pages
W.W. Norton, October, 2006
One cannot read the title to Martín Espada’s new book, The Republic of Poetry without recalling Plato’s banning of poets from his republic due to the subversive nature of their imaginations. However, in Espada’s republic poetry is not banned and “the guard at the airport/ will not allow you to More...
The Republic of Poetry
by Martín Espada
Hardcover 96 pages
W.W. Norton, October, 2006
One cannot read the title to Martín Espada’s new book, The Republic of Poetry without recalling Plato’s banning of poets from his republic due to the subversive nature of their imaginations. However, in Espada’s republic poetry is not banned and “the guard at the airport/ will not allow you to More...
12 comments
like
(2 people liked it)
Feb 21, 2009
John
rated it: 
Finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, and I can understand why. Very strong, overall. I thought the title poem cycle was very well written -- engaging, vivid, smart. I brought the title poem into my advanced poetry writing class, and we talked about it for half an hour. This poem cycle, which formed Part I of the book, is set in Chile and deals with the revolution and its aftermath. Neruda plays a prominent role, not only as a character in some poems, but as a subject (of awe). My favorite poem
More...
Jul 17, 2008
Timothy
rated it:
Stone Hammered to Gravel
(for poet Dennis Brutus, at eighty)
The office workers did not know, plodding through 1963
and Marshall Square station in Johannesburg,
that you would dart down the street between them,
thinking the police would never fire into the crowd.
Sargeant Kleingeld did not know, as you escaped
his fumbling hands and the pistol on his hip,
that he would one day be a footnote in the book of your life.
The secret More...
Feb 27, 2010
Sundry
rated it:
Oh my gosh. How can so few words be so intensely moving?
I was trying to read these poems one by one, but gave in this morning, started over from the beginning and read them in a single breathtaking session in front of the fireplace.
The title poem is a writer's fantasy. When I read "The God of the Weather Beaten Face" to my husband (Vietnam vet, Wilfred Owen fan) we both teared up. "The Poet's Coat" moved me similarly. "General Pinochet at More...
I was trying to read these poems one by one, but gave in this morning, started over from the beginning and read them in a single breathtaking session in front of the fireplace.
The title poem is a writer's fantasy. When I read "The God of the Weather Beaten Face" to my husband (Vietnam vet, Wilfred Owen fan) we both teared up. "The Poet's Coat" moved me similarly. "General Pinochet at More...
Dec 17, 2011
Courtney
rated it:
Martin Espada got me into Pablo Neruda, but his work stands alone and speaks for itself. Like so many Latino poets he is impassioned. He speaks with a human voice. He writes in memory of struggle. And he champions people with fight.
From "Stone Hammered to Gravel"
Did you know, slamming the hammer
into the rock's stoic face,
that a police state is nothing but a boulder
waiting for the alchemy of dust?
From "Stone Hammered to Gravel"
Did you know, slamming the hammer
into the rock's stoic face,
that a police state is nothing but a boulder
waiting for the alchemy of dust?
Jun 30, 2009
Ruth
rated it:
I can't find my copy right now, so no quotes from this. But it's fabulous. The Chile cycle is truly powerful. (Family members, don't buy it for yourselves, because you may be getting it from me for Christmas! :-) )
Oct 07, 2011
Lawrence
rated it:
THe title poem alone is worth the cover price!This poem is funny. Espada does not waste out time contemplating his navel but rather uses poetry as a sword to disembowel politics. This dude is great!
Apr 11, 2009
Enzo
rated it:
what a tribute to both the craft of poetry and its ability to impact the world. Neruda lives on!
Feb 04, 2010
Jonathan
rated it:
Has one of my ABSOLUTE favorite poems in it: Advice to a Young Poet.
Oct 06, 2008
Rauan
rated it: 
I suppose this book's ok.
But, besides the fact that it believes Poetry is Sacred, that Poetry can be Magic, (Dulce et Decorum Est!!) i have a sneaking suspicion that this book is mostly just hot air.
If it were up to me I'd prohibit developing young poets from reading these sorts of books. (not really. but you probably get my drift.)
But, besides the fact that it believes Poetry is Sacred, that Poetry can be Magic, (Dulce et Decorum Est!!) i have a sneaking suspicion that this book is mostly just hot air.
If it were up to me I'd prohibit developing young poets from reading these sorts of books. (not really. but you probably get my drift.)
Sep 04, 2008
John
rated it:
I heard an interview with him where he considered his poetry in the tradition of the Transcendentalists (Walt Whitman, Ralph Waldo Emerson. Henry David Thoreau...) and my ears picked up. And when I heard the joy and the humor in the title poem... Very readable, very graspable stuff.
Jul 07, 2008
aya
rated it:
my favorite poem from this collection:
Advice to Young Poets
Never pretend
to be a unicorn
by sticking a plunger on your head.
that was enough to endear me to the whole collection.
Advice to Young Poets
Never pretend
to be a unicorn
by sticking a plunger on your head.
that was enough to endear me to the whole collection.
Dec 16, 2009
Amanda
rated it:
Espada's passion, his talent for seeing the poetic in the everyday, his humor, and his intense word choice are what make him among the finest living poets. He never fails to amaze and he never disappoints. A brilliant new book.
Dec 17, 2009
I've read most of this, but I'd like to reread it. I'd also like to compare it with a translation that I've gotten that was done by Chilean poets.
Apr 09, 2008
Em
rated it:
favorite poem in this collection:
Advice to Young Poets
Never pretend
to be a unicorn
by sticking a plunger on your head
Advice to Young Poets
Never pretend
to be a unicorn
by sticking a plunger on your head
Feb 12, 2012
Feb 05, 2012
Jan 31, 2012
Jan 28, 2012
Jan 26, 2012
Dec 21, 2011
Dec 15, 2011
Dec 14, 2011
Dec 08, 2011
Dec 07, 2011
Nov 28, 2011
