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Dowsings
A collection consisting of seventeen poems and a prose piece entitled 'Observation'. Edited by Sidney Duval.
25 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1979
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About the author
Sinclair Beiles
15 books2 followersSouth African beat poet and editor for Maurice Girodias at the Olympia Press in Paris. He developed along with William S. Burroughs and Brion Gysin the cut-up technique of writing poetry and literature. He won the 1969 Ingrid Jonker Prize for poetry for his collection, Ashes of Experience.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
June 24, 2017
This is a very short but quite brilliant work of poetry.
Dowsings is a stunning little chapbook from the little-known South African beat poet and playwright, in which Beiles very skilfully and aptly juggles a nice balance of romantic imagery, humour and surrealism to create his own kind of hybrid style. His surrealistic style reminds me of Gregory Corso's work in parts, which makes sense because they knew each other well and in fact even collaborated on one book together ('Minutes to Go').
The poems are sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking and this tension is diffused by the unexpected surrealism added into the mix. Sinclair also comes across as a bit of a fatalist (like Burroughs was) and writes almost like a third person witnessing his life being played out, and determined by the invisible hands of fate which are out of his control and far beyond his weak influence over his own destiny.
Beiles is one of the most underrated poets of his time. It is high time that his works are given a second and much closer look.
Dowsings is a stunning little chapbook from the little-known South African beat poet and playwright, in which Beiles very skilfully and aptly juggles a nice balance of romantic imagery, humour and surrealism to create his own kind of hybrid style. His surrealistic style reminds me of Gregory Corso's work in parts, which makes sense because they knew each other well and in fact even collaborated on one book together ('Minutes to Go').
The poems are sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking and this tension is diffused by the unexpected surrealism added into the mix. Sinclair also comes across as a bit of a fatalist (like Burroughs was) and writes almost like a third person witnessing his life being played out, and determined by the invisible hands of fate which are out of his control and far beyond his weak influence over his own destiny.
Beiles is one of the most underrated poets of his time. It is high time that his works are given a second and much closer look.
Displaying 1 of 1 review