Villain

by Justin Clemens

Villain unleashes a war of forms, perfect sonnets clash with mock haiku, heroic couplets and free verse — all directed towards capturing the contemporary world. But Villain also ranges over time and place, people and events, encompassing science-fiction creatures as well as medieval criminals.

Justin Clemens revives traditional poetic forms to create a shocking and beautiful vision of modern-day life. Invoking the spirit of celebrated French poet, vagabond and thief Francois Villon – some of whose ballads are translated here – these poems range from the violent and obscene to the lyrical and sublime, sometimes within a single verse.

80 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 2009

About the author

Justin Clemens is an Australian academic known for his work on Alain Badiou, psychoanalysis, European philosophy, and contemporary Australian art and literature. He is also a published poet. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_...]

Reviews

[gardenperson]

An architecture with your soul entwines
To keep, not things, but each one's passing, safe.