Mowing Leaves of Grass

by Matt Sedillo

"Matt Sedillo's poetic work is full of history, struggle, tragedy, anger, joy, despair, possibility and faith inthe struggles of working class people to overcome the forces of capitalism and racism. If PatriceLumumba, Rosa Luxembourg, Emiliano Zapata and Ella Baker were alive today, they would all be readingand sharing Matt Sedillo's work with their comrades in service of organizing the next revolution. He istruly the poet laureate of struggle." - Paul Ortiz, Author of Emancipation Betrayed and Director of theSamuel Proctor Oral History Program

Genres: Poetry

128 pages, Paperback

Published December 22, 2019

Reviews

[María Estrada · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a long-time fan of Matt Sedillo. He has performed for my Creative Writing students and college community at large. His YouTube videos are amazing and worth watching. Sedillo is a master performer and incredibly intelligent revolutionary. However, this is the first time I have purchased one of his books, and it did not disappoint. I would give it ten stars if I could, and the book has now found a permanent home on my desk. Students and educators of different genres will appreciate this book.

My students have enjoyed analyzing the political economy and history of racism in the works and genuinely immersed themselves in the beauty of the verses. The book is not only a must-have for academics of U.S. Latino studies and creative writing students, but seasoned writers as well.

The scholarly depth of each poem and the masterful, musical line-breaks were sublime—line breaks are something I struggle with. It is pure joy to analyze how his lines are broken down, how each poem is put together, whether Matt writes about the Mexican-American history of California or points to deep injustices in our American history. My favorite poems, of course, ridicule Trump, but they do so, organically, as part of a larger message. “Custers” was by far my favorite where he writes: “Fffffuuuu [. . .] cccckkkkk / Latinos for Trump / Gusanos / Cristeros / Vendidos” (124). That was the perfect poem to round out the collection. I love it. I love reading it over and over.

Sedillo puts a lot of time and thought into his craft. I hope the book will win many awards and be studied at different educational institutions across the globe. It is timely, political, beautiful. I can’t wait to buy the next poetry book by Matt Sedillo.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review coming soon.

[Kamari Somers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an unrelenting reality check about all the BULLSHIT going on in our country and it’s also hilarious in a “fuck this shit” kinda way. Going into this week, I think this was the most accurate representation of how a lot of oppressed groups are feelings about the state of things.

If you wanna laugh really hard while also thinking critically, this book is for you! I absolutely fell in love with the book and I starred and underlined soooooo many lines and passages that I will be revisiting often. So many quote worthy, tv shirt worthy, poster worthy, inspiring and quo-shifting passages. I don’t think I’ve ever yelled “OH SHIT” this many times while reading a collection of poems. Everybody should read this but all you “sympathetic” white people should read this 😂

Favorite poems were:
The Devil
Carved Over
Wagon’s Thread
Shithole/Triumph of the Deal
La Reina
Calilibre
Here Is A Nation
El Sereno
Once Upon a Go Back to Mexico
Kingdom Of Cages
Custers

[Karena Acree-Paez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this and you'll understand why Matt Sedillo has been called the "best political poet in America." You won't find this densely packed history, social and political critique as well as the revolutionary echo of the class struggle. A masterpiece!

[Christian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matt Sedillo refuses to compromise the line for the message, and we need that because the message is important. There is anger here and it’s captured the way it should be: raw and loud.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book of poetry! Definitely in-your-face, but in the right kind of way.

[Alexander Parra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful collection of poems. I grew up in the same community as Sedillo and I could tell some of the places he mused about.