Saigon, Hanoi or Da Nang

by David S. Cross

With reflections on the working life, a stroll downtown, or a drive along a country road, the poet makes us examine our actions and our attitudes without prejudice. There are times of sadness, despair, confusion but also a feeling that there is a power to affect change; to find humour in ourselves and beauty in our world.

This collection, the second book from Cross was released in April 2009. This is also the second book in a series showcasing up and coming poets published by Poptritus Press in San Luis Obispo. The classic design provides a beautiful canvas for the words to come alive.

A unique timeline feature shows the chronology of the poems.

"A collection of poems to infiltrate, intimidate, and invigorate your spirit, and leave your intellect prostrate, begging for its mummy."

Genres: Poetry

56 pages, paperback

First published April 24, 2009

About the author

David Cross was raised in Galt (Cambridge), Ontario and enjoyed writing as a teenager and into his early twenties. However, he soon started a family and had to work diligently for the industrial complex selling auto parts and dangerous chemical concoctions. He spent three years living in El Paso Texas, travelling the southwest and working in Chihuahua, Mexico. Now he lives in a mystic village with a shapeshifter, a witch and a large black dog. He works very little and not too hard, practices poetry and wonders why he didn't do this sooner. His work has been published in numerous journals in Canada, USA and the UK.

His poetry is a blend of everyday observations and wild imaginings, intertwining characters and events of his hometown with those encountered during his travels. It speaks dirctly to each of us; to the human condition. Two collections of his poetry: "Colour of Days" and "Saigon, Hanoi or Da Nang" were published in 2007 and 2009 respectively.

He writes continually and often shares his newest works; reading them at public events, before publication.

Reviews

[Bobby · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Goodreads Giveaway!

I haven't read poetry in a while and found it refreshing that David Cross' collection was pretty easy to understand. My favorites were Caregiver & Too Little. I actually really enjoyed the caped men poem, but felt the title was a little much (A Poem Loosely Based On the Deeds Of One Dead President, One Super Hero and One of The Three Tenors, Juxtaposed With The Tragic Reality of Modern Western Politics) and doesn't do the poem justice.

[Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄ƷLuiise♥EllenƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has an amazing selection of poetry, there wasn't a single peom that i didn't like.
I'm so very glad i won this book =D
Great Great worl =D

[Becks · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a pleasent surprise to find this book in the mail! It contains some really nice poems, some thought provoking, and others that made me smile. :)

[Alexis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Waiting for my first win from First Reads to come in the mail!

Well, I've received it and I've read it. I very much appreciated that Mr. Cross took the time to sign my copy of his collection. The gesture made me smile and so did his poetry. There were a couple of poems I especially enjoyed because of the vivid imagery employed...more on that later.

I really enjoyed "A Dog's Life (The Race)," but I will not be quoting the entire poem because it is longer. I will, however, share a few lines...

Santa's sleigh is dashed to pieces on a rocky Labrador shore
And his body preserved by Faeries of the Rock
Their tee-shirts adorned with flames consuming orchids
Santa's body is stored for future transport back to his land
Back to his North Pole palace
.....
Not the same North Pole where dog sleds criss-cross ice floes
Teams of dogs pull sleds and dream of raw fish dinners
Teams of dogs do not leave their own to suffer
Not like human dogs with breast implants and fat wallets
.....
Fat wallets don't wait for their teammates
Fat wallets don't slow the pace to let the weak keep up
Fat wallets consume one another like Santa pigging out
On Christmas Eve to fill his huge red knickers

Another fave is "The Ayes Have It"

I can't recall exactly when it was
When last my eyes did not burn all day
And fight to find some rest
Amid the CRTs, LCDs and flat panels
And blankets of solar flaring snows

And I don't know why it is they always pain me
For I rest them well each night
Sleep in a darkened room

So maybe it's a rebellion, an uprising they have staged
For though they are just prisms
The mind has sent the message back
That most of what they're sending in
Should be protested against
Or never seen at all

I did enjoy this collection. I look forward to reading more of Mr. Cross's poetry in the future.

[Stuart · Rating 2 out of 5]

Before I write this review, I would like to thank all involved for sending out this review copy free of charge. It has been an interesting experience to be asked for a review, rather than drop my opinions into the hollow void that is the internet.
I am afraid that this review is not favourable, but then why send out review copies if you do not expect honest, constructive criticism?

I suppose I should give the short answer first. The poetry in this book is not bad, but neither is it interesting. Only a very few poems build on observation; most of them are just random collections of things the author has noticed, with no conceivable point. Often it seems as if the author has simply written a paragaph and then split the words up into lines; this gives it the feel of not being poetry at all.

I have not read a lot of poetry, so perhaps I am not the best judge. Also, the poetry I have read is the cream of the crop, such as that by Poe, Browning, and others of a similar calibre, so perhaps I am being too harsh. Others obviously think differently, as the reviews here attest, but it wasn't for me.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saigon, Hanoi or Da Nang showed wonderful range in writing style and subject. Cross is a compelling contemporary poet and reading his work reminded me why I fell in love with poetry in the first place; recognizing my own emotions in someone else's experiences.

You will not regret reading this work by David S. Cross.

[Elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book and honestly from the first couple of pages, I think I decided that it was the best thing I ever won. I would of never of thought to buy it, thanks to the weird title in my opinion but it was truly awesome :)


Utterly inspiring.

[Daisy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of pizza in these poems. Still, the poems are only okay. Some are trivial. And some make me sad. Not that that's a real review. My favorite at the moment is Having A Word With The Neighbour.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

David Cross has an artful way of putting us in everyday moments, and making you listen to the voice in your own head. Thought-provoking and interesting, yet a little pedestrian (from a literary standpoint).

I enjoyed this collection.

[Eric]

A nice collection of poetry. Cross has a straightforward style. I really enjoyed "Who?" and "Driving With My Baby."

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very nice collection of poems. The authors did a great job of making them flow, so you weren't left feeling that the writer was trying too hard to write them.

[Katharine (Ventureadlaxre) · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first win from a goodreads give away! I haven't had the chance to look at it yet, but I look forward to it.

ETA: Finished reading it. I liked 'Left Behind', since I see how terrible my father is with technology compared to how easily it comes to me, and I think that poem sums up completely how he feels, especially when he calls me from work to ask why his printer isn't working or why he can't sign on, etc.

I'd like to know more about 'The Watch', I guess, as it seems incomplete.

Sadly, in part I must agree with a review 'Stuart Dorward' wrote, where he says: 'I suppose I should give the short answer first. The poetry in this book is not bad, but neither is it interesting. Only a very few poems build on observation; most of them are just random collections of things the author has noticed, with no conceivable point. Often it seems as if the author has simply written a paragaph and then split the words up into lines; this gives it the feel of not being poetry at all.'

...Sadly, I must agree. Although Cross' poems were nice to read, I don't think you could really call them poems in a publishing sense. They came across as the same 'kind of thing' as fanfics. People can write them, publish them online, and you can read them and like/enjoy them, but you don't really consider them to be the real thing.

So... I liked it. I really did. It just didn't seem ... real, I guess.

[Martijn · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is only the second book of poetry that I have ever read. Poetry is usually not my thing, but this book was a free giveaway which (being Dutch) I couldn't refuse.

After reading it, my feelings towards poetry haven't really changed. Somehow I don't understand poems. On the back of the book it says "a collection of poems to invigorate, intimidate, adjudicate, and mentally stimulate, and which will leave you prostrate, begging for your mummy". Uhm, I did not even remotely feel any of these things while reading the book. Begging for my mummy? Right.

So I have to give this book only 1 star. I only liked one poem: the one about career change, and that is not enough to earn more. I look forward to reading other reviews, because then I may be able to learn to appreciate poetry...

/Martijn

[Jo · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really really wish I could say that this slim little volume made a big ol' impact on me, but it didn't. However, this is likely more my fault than Cross's, 'cause I just don't get poetry. I entered to win because I'll read anything, and when I won I was glad, thinking I could expand my horizons. But I really, really do not understand poetry. I can never tell if I'm reading too much into it or not enough. I feel like I should sit with one poem for at least fifteen minutes going, "What does it mean?" but I'm just not that patient. So, while I was underwhelmed by Cross's words, those who do understand poetry may think I'm an idiot. Go for it. I won't blame you.

I received a free copy through FirstReads in exchange for an honest review.

[Stef · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would also like to thank Mr. Cross, and everyone at Goodreads for the opportunity to enjoy this book gratuit. I'm not sure why I haven't review this yet...

This collection is certainly hit-or-miss. It feels only loosely cohesive, uneven more often than not. However, there are some real gems in this MS, as well. A few brilliant poems and some truly breathtaking lines out-shined the less-stellar pockets of the collection. The potential here is evident, if not yet fully realized.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome! A fresh voice that speaks to all of us.