Barzilla

by Edwin Decker

Edwin Decker hops from subject to subject in Barzilla with amazing agility. He comments on a variety of serious and humorous subjects, usually with some infusion of satire. Vivd illustrations complement the poetry and inspire the imagination.

105 pages, Perfect Paperback

Published November 15, 2006

Reviews

[Lara Solante · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lol wtf

[Brendan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think it could have been better. Decker is smarter than this, a better writer than this. Too often he comes off as immature; too often he engages in crudeness for the sake of being crude (seemingly).

"Pain of You" and "The Fireplace, Unlit, Is the Coldest Place in the House" are the stand-out pieces. They're both serious, perhaps sad, poems.

There's a five-part serial called "Man on the Side of the Road Playing Bagpipes". It's scattered through the book at random intervals. I like the concept, if not the content.

There is also artwork by various artists. My favorite pieces are by Ali Matus and David Lonteen.

Now the dishes pile up
like whores in corridors
on a freezing Christmas Eve.
- "Upheavel"

The birds flee the branches
like a shotgun blast
and even Poe
is alarmed.
- "Foreboding"

Hot, dry,
its walls bleed cigarettes
and the epitaphs of a million livers.
- "Arizona Cafe"

[Ronnie Theroux · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this book at a street fair where my daughter was selling her book and I finally read it and I absolutely loved it.