Poems for Teeth

by Richard Loranger

Poetry. "So now we have Richard Loranger's POEMS FOR TEETH, where every tooth gets its own poem, in one of the most extraordinary and virtuosic poetic feats since Francis Ponge took on Soap.. As the extraordinary poems in this one-of-a-kind venture by a one-of-a-kind poet unwind, the reader's mind gets a much-needed deep flossing, unhidden and totally useful"--Bob Holman. "Nothing quite prepares us for Richard Loranger's POEMS FOR TEETH, a book of poems unlike any other. Occasioned by a severe jaw infection and the resulting dental surgeries, these "crazy odes", "thank-yous to my teeth", he calls them, are meant both as acts of remembrance and restitution. Little lamentations for what is lost, poems of praise for what remains, they sing through their teeth, as it were, the tender, sad, sorry, outrageous comedy of our mortality... And each is brought to us in radiant and goofy word-riffs, arpeggios that ring the rich changes between jeremiad, scat-song, nursery rhyme, elegy, ode, gospel, glo

Genres: Poetry

Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm in awe of Richard Loranger's vocabulary. I love it when I have to look up words while I'm reading. He's a true poet. Like a lot of poets influenced by the Beats (just guessing here), he does go on a bit long. That is, he could probably benefit from a little more editing/revising. Still, this was exciting work that makes me want to read more by him. He's also a very dynamic reader -- I've heard him read (and sing) a couple of times and can't wait to do so again. There's an appendix at the back of this volume with written melodies for some of the poems.

[Eveline Chao · Rating 4 out of 5]

saw this guy read and liked him a lot. these poems are indeed all about his teeth. one poem for every tooth, i believe.

[Vicky]

omg i need to read this book now. two things i've been obsessed with this past month: poetry & teeth