Product Description

With the same pithy but eloquent observations characteristic of Jordan's classic poetry collections, Things that I Do in the Dark and Living Room, and her notable essay collections, Civil Wars and Technical Difficulties, Kissing God Goodbye will strike a universal chord as it witnesses the pain, confusion, and passion of what it's like to live in our society at the twilight of the twentieth century.



June Jordan's many selves, as poet, essayist, feminist, and activist come together here in a collection of poetry that is alternately lyrical, magical, shockingly spare, pungently political, yet universally resonate. Beautiful love poems are interspersed with poems about Bosnia, Africa, urban America, Clarence Thomas, affirmative action, her mother's suicide, and Jordan's bout with breast cancer.



This collection of poetry will be warmly welcomed by June Jordan loyalists and new readers who will thrill to discover a voice that has been described as one of the "most gifted poets of the late twentieth century."

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1254568 in Books
• Published on: 1997-10-13
• Released on: 1997-10-13
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 112 pages

From Library Journal
Should anyone be doubting the existence of an authentically activist poetry, a glance at the life and work of Jordan will demonstrate once and for all the tradition in full effect. Deceptively simple lines that leap from the page, down the throat and straight into the heart?where they begin to boil. Consider this plain and penetrating theological arrow launched at Operation Rescue: "You mean to tell me on the 12th day or the 13th/ that the Lord.../ decided who could live and who could die?/ And after he did what?.../ created alleyways of death/ and acid rain/ and infant mortality rates/ and sons of the gun.../ Oh! Not that guy?" Once disarmed, the reader receives the question?where do you stand? and must decide what to do. It is hard to imagine a more effective method and, combined with the life Jordan has led, a more effective public poetry. Recommended for all libraries.?Steven Ellis, Pennsylvania State University Libs.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
Argument With The Buddha
Birthday In Paris
The Bombing Of Baghdad
Bosnia Bosnia
Bridget Song #1
Campsite #21
Christmas Poem
The Eclipse Of 1996
Fact Sheets For B.b.l.
First Poem After Serious Surgery
Focus In Real Time
Ghaflah
Haiku For B.b.l.
Haiku For The Would-be Killers Of A Teacher
Intifada Incantation:
Kissing God Goodbye
Lebanon Lebanon: I
Lebanon Lebanon: Ii
Lebanon Lebanon: Iii
Lebanon Lebanon: Iv
Letter To Mrs. Virginia Thomas, Wife Of Whatzhisname Lamentably
Merry-go-around Poetry
Message From Belfast For Justice And For Gerry Adams
October Snowpea Poem
Poem #1 For B.b.l.
Poem #3 For B.b.l.
Poem #4 For B.b.l.
Poem #6 For B.b.l.
Poem #7 For B.b.l.
Poem #9 For B.b.l.
Poem After Receiving Voicemail From You After (i Don't Even Know
Poem At The End Of The Third Year
Poem Because The 1996 U.s. Poet Lawreate Told The San Francisco
Poem For A Young Poet
Poem In Memory Of Alan Schindler, 22 Years Old
Poem To Continue A Conversation
Short Takes
Sometimes Clarity Comes In The Dark
Study #1
Study #2 For B.b.l.
Tanka Metaphors Or Not For B.b.l.
Tanka Trio: I
Tanka Trio: Ii
Tanka Trio: Iii
What Great Grief Has Made The Empress Mute
-- Table of Poems from Poem Finder®

Should anyone be doubting the existence of an authentically activist poetry, a glance at the life and work of Jordan will demonstrate once and for all the tradition in full effect. Deceptively simple lines that leap from the page, down the throat and strait into the heart - where they begin to boil. Consider this plain and penetrating theological arrow launched at Operation Rescue: "You mean to tell me that on the 12th or the 13th/ that the Lord.../decided who could live and who could die?/And after he did what?.../created alleyways of death/ and acid rain/ and infant mortality rates/ and sons of the gun/ ...Oh! Not that guy?" Once disarmed, the reader receives the question - where do you stand? and must decide what to do. It is hard to imagine a more effective method and, combined with the life Jordan has led, a more effective public poetry. Recommended for all libraries. -- Steven Ellis, Pennsylvania State University Libraries. January, 1998.

From the Publisher
With the same pithy but eloquent observations characteristic of Jordan's classic poetry collections, Things that I Do in the Dark and Living Room, and her notable essay collections, Civil Wars and Technical Difficulties, Kissing God Goodbye will strike a universal chord as it witnesses the pain, confusion, and passion of what it's like to live in our society at the twilight of the twentieth century.

June Jordan's many selves, as poet, essayist, feminist, and activist come together here in a collection of poetry that is alternately lyrical, magical, shockingly spare, pungently political, yet universally resonate. Beautiful love poems are interspersed with poems about Bosnia, Africa, urban America, Clarence Thomas, affirmative action, her mother's suicide, and Jordan's bout with breast cancer.

This collection of poetry will be warmly welcomed by June Jordan loyalists and new readers who will thrill to discover a voice that has been described as one of the "most gifted poets of the late twentieth century."

Customer Reviews

risky poet
i don't know many poets who are as risky as june jordan in their poetics. what a singular voice in american letters. she has such a command of craft--especially with vertical rhythm. the cadence of her poetry is such that you are compelled to listen/ read her lyrical truth from word to precious word. she doesn't come to pretty conclusions, and is down right blunt. in "bosnia, bosnia" she states: too bad there is no oil between her legs that 14 year old Muslim girl. or her own internal and external debate with "god": he has no dominion over me/ my name is freedom/ my name is female. and even through all this, she manages such empathy, such tenderness. she does not obliterate anyone--not even god. she KISSES god goodbye. a loving gesture, even to one in whom she does not agree with. i can think of so few poets who write of current affairs and current conflicts with such rich detail--with such urgency. in my humble opinion, a must read.

A great modern poet
All I can say is amazing. June Jordan writes poems that truly speak to you. They are filled with love, outrage, humor. She has a down to earth writing style that anyone can understand. Says say what she wants to say honestly, without regret about topics like race, sexuality, war, brutality, and oppression. If you enjoy poetry this is a must read.

Interesting but nothing new
June's poetry isn't bad. It's actually quite good... if you have the time to actually read the whole poems. There are some good short ones and I admire the fact she's very honest in her poems but her poetry gets LONG. She has many poems dedicated to "b.b.L." and those poems are about relationships which I enjoyed very much because you can relate to what she's feeling. She has one poem entitled: "Poem After Receiving Voicemail from You After (I Don't Even Know Anymore) How Long!" Who can't relate to that?