An Alternative to Speech by David Lehman - Paperback

Lehman's ironic poems first catch the reader with their jangly nervous energy and their delight in word play and paradox. They often explore the relation between language and truth (as in "Abeit Macht Frei," when the phrase, "Work shall set you free," takes on sinister connotations when posted above the gate of Auschwitz), or the limits of intellect, stripping away the protective coating of reason to reveal the terror beneath. Highly experimental approaches are combined with traditional elements; Lehman is not afraid to use rhyme and will frequently play on the expectations of traditional forms. While sometimes merely glib wit, these poems more often survey the contemporary malaise from fresh, striking angles. Lawrence Rungren, Bedford Free P.L., Mass.     --From Library Journal
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