Dancing on the Grave of a Son of a Bitch

by Diane Wakoski

Book by Diane Wakoski

Genres: Poetry

137 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1973

About the author

Wakoski is an American poet who is primarily associated with the deep image poets such as Jerome Rothenberg, Robert Kelly, and Clayton Eshleman. Throughout her work she uses legends, myth and fairy tales to create a deeply personal mythology.

She is best known for a series of poems collectively known as "The Motorcycle Betrayal Poems."

Wakoski was given the William Carlos Williams Award for her "Emerald Ice: Selected Poetry 1962-1987."

Reviews

[Nikki Deal · Rating 3 out of 5]

“and it is always the man,
never the machine
who betrays me.”

[Jackie Burton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the way she writes about men.

[Squeasel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really loved first third. Second two thirds meh.

[Steven Godin · Rating 3 out of 5]

shine,
it flushes my face
with marigolds.
My open hands brush against the raingod's face
and he steams,
boils.

Love is
not a visit to the bank.
Passion spends ahead of its
income.
Rain
here
is warm.
Night everywhere
is painful.
A sharp edge against the cheek.
A piece of broken glass under bare feet.
A mirror for scorpions.

When I am alone,
I feel like a day-old glass of water.
Night is bad poetry,
sentimental songs,
cold rain,
bad checks drawn on a non existent bang.

[Meg Ready · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title says it all. Dance, dance.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

My new favorite book of poetry to grab when I need to feel everything. No one uses words quite like Diane Wakoski.

[castella and novellas · Rating 2 out of 5]

the best part about this poetry collection was the parts that weren't poetry.

i can count on one hand the amount of poems i understood.

[Leslie Quan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed Wakoski's poetry, perhaps not my favorite poetry ever, but I was also thoroughly surprised about the fables written at the end of the book. I would recommend this poetry book!

[Scott Ballard · Rating 4 out of 5]

“…May the suffering
We all do
Pay for days
Full of poetry.”

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is very hard for me to write about poetry, though I will try. Diane Wakoski's poetry is a delight to read. I understand her imagery and appreciate the shape of her poetry and its emotion. I found the first third of the poems in this book to be the most accessible and can see myself reading Wakoski's poems for years to come as I seek to understand and know more of them. "A Feather in Your Cap," is very poignant, though it also reveals disappointment as a form of inspiration, "My pain/which makes me sing." Her poetry is stunning with multiple imagery, similes, metaphors, "black as eels," "and the black night spread/like glistening caviar." It's surrealistic, passionate, angry, vulnerable, forceful, and is like visiting another universe of words, sound, and language. A reader can stumble across many wonderful lines and truths, such as, "May the suffering/we all do/pay for days/full of/poetry." All I can say is that I want to learn more about poetry in order to better appreciate Wakoski's works and I want to read more of her poetry.

[m. soria · Rating 5 out of 5]

her old poems may be hard to find, but absolutely worth the hunt and the wait and the glory and honor that is yours once you find her...

[Leah · Rating 2 out of 5]

serves best as a coffee table book, the only standout to me was the title poem. I'll still be checking out her other work, however.