Preliminary Report

by Jon Davis

“Davis is as good as DeLillo at playing off our internal hunger for meaning against surface senselessness. And Davis catches the surface brilliantly.”— American Book Review Punctuated by subversive humor, verbal theatrics, and moments of strange, luminous beauty, Davis’ clear, unsentimental poems are meditations and mediations on contemporary existence and the unreliability of language, emotions, and the memory to gather it all in. Jon Davis , author of five collections of poetry, earned his MFA from the University of Montana. He has received a Lannan Literary Award and currently teaches at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Genres: Poetry

106 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 1, 2010

About the author

Jon Davis is the author of five chapbooks and six books of poetry; he has received numerous awards, including a Lannan Literary Award, two National Endowment for the Arts Fellowships, and the Lavan Younger Poets Award from the Academy of American Poets. He earned his MFA from the University of Montana, and founded and directed the low-residency MFA in creative writing at the Institute of American Indian Arts. In 2012, he was selected as Poet Laureate of Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Reviews

[Blessing ezekiel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jon Davis’ Preliminary Report is a masterful collection of contemporary poetry that balances wit, reflection, and insight. His poems explore the tension between life’s surface chaos and our deeper search for meaning, using sharp language, humor, and luminous imagery to create meditative, thought provoking moments. A striking and unsentimental read for anyone who appreciates precision and depth in poetry.

[Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

Preliminary Report is a sharp and thought-provoking poetry collection that explores meaning, memory, and modern existence with clarity and emotional precision. Davis’ voice is distinctive and intellectually engaging, making this a memorable and impactful work of contemporary poetry.

[Shawn Alff · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best narrative poet I've yet to encounter.

[Sarah]

read a few of his poems, got interested