Who's on First?: New and Selected Poems

Lloyd Schwartz's poems are unique, combining the heartbreaking and the hilarious. With his ear for the poetry of the vernacular, he offers a memorable cast of characters, from his mother's flashes of memory to Gracie Allen's comic wisdom. Whos on First? brings together a selection of poems from all of Schwartz's previous collections, highlighting his formal inventiveness in tangling and untangling the yarn of comedy and pathos.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 160 pages
Publication date: 27 August 2021
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

Lloyd Schwartz's poetry has been celebrated for over four decades for its unique blend of heartbreaking and hilarious elements. With his exceptional ear for the poetry of the vernacular, Schwartz creates a memorable cast of characters, both real and imagined, foolish and wise. Readers are transported to various worlds, experiencing Schwartz's mother's poignant flashes of memory, the perverse comic wisdom of Gracie Allen, the uninhibited yet loving exhibitionists of antique pornography, and eager travelers traversing America in a club car or waiting in a Brazilian airport. Schwartz approaches these characters with empathy, recognizing their attempts to live their lives with tenderness, humor, and grace.

Whos on First? is a compilation of selected poems from Schwartz's previous collections, as well as new poems that showcase his formal inventiveness in navigating the complexities of comedy and pathos. Throughout these poems, the underlying question emerges: what does it take to create art, and what are the costs associated with this pursuit? Schwartz's poetry offers a profound exploration of these themes, inviting readers to reflect on the human experience and the power of artistic expression.

In conclusion, Lloyd Schwartz's poetry stands out as a rare and exceptional blend of heartache and humor, offering readers a memorable cast of characters and a thoughtful exploration of the artistic process. With his exceptional ear for the vernacular and his empathetic approach to his subjects, Schwartz has created a body of work that is both captivating and thought-provoking, leaving a lasting impact on those who encounter his words.

Weight: 330g
Dimension: 245 x 362 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780226795089