Vasko Popa: Complete Poems 1953-1987

This is a wonderful collection of poems by one of the most interesting poets of the 20th century.

I’ve been studying strictly modern and contemporary poetry intensely for over 40 years. I own more than 1,000 poetry books. I recently ordered Vasko Popa’s Complete Poems and decided to read it cover-to-cover in one go, interrupted only by a couple of naps. In my third reading now it has been one of the most enjoyable reading experiences of my life. This book, with brilliant translations by Anne Pennington (1934 – 1981) and Francis R. Jones, who also revised, edited, and prefaced the book, is a masterpiece in every way. I even contacted Professor Jones at Newcastle University and he was kind enough to answer a couple of questions I had. I’ll be buying some others of his translations of Serbian poetry. I’m in Toronto and the the Complete Poems arrived in two days from Amazon in New Jersey. Another order from Amazon, Tadeusz Różewicz’s superb Sobbing Superpower:Selected Poems, arrived from Belgium very swiftly too. Gotta love that Prime.

Great Poems.