Unprotected Texts: Selected Poems, 1978-2006

by Tom Beckett

Poetry. Well known for editing The Difficulties (1980-1990), a now legendary critical journal, Tom Beckett releases UNPROTECTED TEXTS, his first and much anticipated full-length book. Here, zombies and Wittgenstein bracket a series of autonomous zones populated by the Book, Harry Partch, 100 Questions, shadows, holograms, the Subject, the author himself, and numerous pronouns. These UNPROTECTED TEXTS flood the tones of speech wrenched from the bent notes of a life lived looking for a connection to "the conversation" which takes place amongst musics of meaning. Sex and text are synonymous here: "Is this speech balloon a rubber?" Ron Silliman says, "For three decades now, Tom Beckett has been writing the most hard-headed, clear-eyed, unsentimental poetry in America. He has the rigor of a master & the mind of a first-rate detective." Sheila Murphy adds, "That this book is overdue, results in a level of concentration that intensifies the experience of reading."

Genres: Poetry

180 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2006

Reviews

[Allen]

a terrific collection. last November in Cambridge, Tom red the entire book, which undermines the idea of collection, because ti held us in the audience as a single, as well as singular, work.Tom labours words one at a time, jostling them for the right attention. his poetry is straightforwardly erotic, in an intensely literate yet blood-filled way. the eros of meaning. this book really is a classic, defiantly wrought, one might say, in the ill-inspected field of contemporary poetry. 5 stars for those who need them.

[Geof Huth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review: http://dbqp.blogspot.com/2006/10/erot...

[Claire Hale · Rating 5 out of 5]

He's my dad, that alone is worth 5 stars. 😂