Ligatures

by Donato Mancini

Poetry. Drawing heavily on the work of bpNichols, and informed by contemporary visual art practices, LIGATURES is unafraid to wallow in the vernacular of popular culture. Sophisticated, irreverent humor marks this debut volume of concrete poetry from Donato Mancini. In a parody of literary modernism, LIGATURES embraces both visual and verabal beauty. Each piece intentionally echoes themes and concerns from its fellows, creating a visual and thematic dialogue between works.

Genres: Poetry

Paperback

First published October 6, 2005

Reviews

[cristiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

i saw a copy of this book last nite during dinner w/ some writers. it's exquisite...the layouts were like nothing ive seen, with shapes made out of letters that have been transformed inot the intersection of pictographs and experimental type layout. i can't wait to read it.

[M.W.P.M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

it remembered
and he
answered

-

you're very sometime
Ms Yes

-

knelt
failed
enfolded
fact

-

picture of a quiet
picture

-

the tear fell
in his
lap

-

[...]

- T.C.W.N.L., pg. 15

* * *

- to be, pg.

* * *

- zoo, pg.

* * *

- pg. 63

* * *

- pg. 65

* * *

setting, tone, time, intimation
of the expected
'turning up'

w/
what's done
he does
has done

interlude A
suggestion unspoken the

un-
spoken comes to
the surface

say what's
needed
what's
lack

setting down again only
this setting
is understood as a particle
of a total
return
to the particular
now

here is the desire
is the wish

only the thing that matters

- A B C A C, pg. 78-79

[Ricardo Signes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the first half: "Lphabeta - Aalphabe", "Graphically Classified Alphabet", "T.C.W.N.L.", and "Ligature." After that, it lost me.

Actually, that's only about the first third of the book. Also, I wonder whether Ligature couldn't be more interestingly constructed. This one felt pretty random.

Nonetheless, I am glad I read it.

[Derek H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and freaky. It hurts after the first few pages. But hurts good.

[Inverted · Rating 2 out of 5]

All for typography and experimentation, but I don't settle for just those. I like the Qs poem though; it's cute.