Famed and beloved beat poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti’s quotable book Poetry as Insurgent Art is part desiderata, part manifesto on the importance of poetry.
In four prose poems and a brief essay, its quips vary from rebellious (“Strive to change the world in such a way that there’s no further need to be a dissident”) to koan-like statements to patently-Ferlinghetti comparisons to classic art and canonic literature (“Poetry can be heard at manholes, echoing up Dante’s fire escape”). Also, there are lots of birds.
For anyone who needs to be convinced of the vitality of art’s resistance or to be encouraged to pursue the struggle for vitality in life and expression, this little book of poetic affirmations will be a joy to read.
–Renée
photo by by flickr user elgin.jessica
Eleventh Stack 