Aztec Autopsies

David Gershator visits and re-visits Mexico in poems ranging from headline grabbing news clips to lyrical love poems, from fiery fulminations to hallucinatory visions. As translator/editor of Federico García Lorca’s SELECTED LETTERS and student of the poet’s brother, Francisco García Lorca, he takes cues from Lorca’s experiments in POETA EN NUEVA YORK; from countless rancheras and corridos; from the historical continuity of myth, madness, politics and pain; and from Inga Clendinnen’s description of “Mexica aesthetics” in her book AZTECS: AN INTERPRETATION, as operating “through a kind of surrealism achieved by dislocation.” The 100 page collection includes a glossary and 17 pen and ink drawings by the poet.

David Gershator visits and re-visits Mexico in poems ranging from headline grabbing news clips to lyrical love poems, from fiery fulminations to hallucinatory visions. As translator/editor of Federico García Lorca’s SELECTED LETTERS and student of the poet’s brother, Francisco García Lorca, he takes cues from Lorca’s experiments in POETA EN NUEVA YORK; from countless rancheras and corridos; from the historical continuity of myth, madness, politics and pain; and from Inga Clendinnen’s description of “Mexica aesthetics” in her book AZTECS: AN INTERPRETATION, as operating “through a kind of surrealism achieved by dislocation.” The 100 page collection includes a glossary and 17 pen and ink drawings by the poet.

David Gershator‘s poetry, reviews, and translations have appeared in numerous anthologies and journals such as THE CARIBBEAN WRITER, HOME PLANET NEWS, CONTEMPORARY HAIBUN, and PATERSON REVIEW. His paintings and prints have been exhibited at, among other venues, the Chase Manhattan Bank and the Reichhold Center for the Arts in St. Thomas. Recipient of an National Endowment of the Humanities literature grant and NY State Creative Arts Public Service poetry award, he also translated and edited FEDERICO GARCIA LORCA: SELECTED LETTERS (New Directions) and collaborated on seven picture books and a CD of original songs for children. Gershator’s previous collections of poetry include ELIJAH'S CHILD (Cross Cultural Communications) and PLAY MAS’ (Downtown Poets). www.davidgershator.com