The Last Predicta

by Chad Davidson

The Last Predicta is Chad Davidson's searing collection of poetry dedicated to endings of all varieties. From odes to the corporate cornucopia of Target and the aggressive cheer of a Carnival cruise, to emotive examinations of Caravaggio's The Calling of St. Matthew or flies circling a putrescent bowl of forgotten fruit, Davidson weaves a lyrical web of apocalyptic scenarios and snapshots of pop culture. Throughout the volume appear cataclysms large and small, whether the finality of a minute passed or the deaths of a thousand swans at Seneca Lake in 1912. Images of King Kong, Starburst candies, and the Brady Bunch swim with mythological figures, Roman heroes, and dead animals as Davidson deftly explores the relationship between the mundane and the profound. At the center of the collection sits the Predicta television itself, "the lives blooming there in Technicolor," at once futuristic and nostalgic in its space age prophecy. Moving in their very simplicity, these poems resonate with discoveries that belie their seemingly ordinary wellsprings. Chad Davidson's stunning collection repeatedly explores the moment of revelation and all its accompanying aftermaths. The Last Predicta leads readers to ponder all manner of predictions, endings, and everything that follows.

Genres: Poetry

80 pages, Paperback

First published October 30, 2008

Reviews

[Jordan Andersen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is great so far, I got a chance to meet Chad Davidson and hear him read some of his poetry. He is truly a master of contemporary poetry.

[Zach · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic collection of searching poems, shot through with veins of humor and wry observation. Davidson has a startling knack for simile, pulling the perfect image seemingly from nowhere. A romantic sensibility with access to the internet.

[Bridget · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure: I work for the book's publisher. But good lord I love this book.

[Keith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'll need to re-read this collection to give it a fair shake. While I did take my time with this, the poems seemed so cram-packed with content it was a challenge to take it all in and formulate any opinion. At times Davidson's vocabulary and long line style reminded me of Rodney Jones. However, Davidson is definitely more companionable than Jones. (Jones often seems to be writing against religion and making a vigorous effort to rally for his atheistic worldview.) Davidson's poetry incorporates so many various things it creates a kaleidoscope of imagery and themes. Line by line and word by word I appreciated all the content and texture, but my problem was finding my bearings. I only marked one poem as something I was completely satisfied with, "Fever" which is addressed to St. Teresa of Avila--probably because I could wrap my head around what was happening in that one.