Mindfield: New and Selected Poems

Corso, the fourth Beat never as well-known as the holy trinity of Kerouac Ginsberg Burroughs, Poet's Poet, starving artist bum madman addict jerk & joker. He wrote numerous undeniable classics, like Bomb, Marriage, I am 25, and Columbia U Poesy Reading--1975. Some of his lines are the definition of pure poetry. He earned his place at the table with the greats of the Beat Generation. His style's less experimental than the other beats; he adhered more to traditional romantic poetry like his hero Shelley. Legend has it that he read the entire Oxford English Dictionary while he was in jail, and it shows in his lovely vocabulary. Without Corso, I never would have heard of words like talaria & autochthonic. For most readers, this collection will be all the Corso you will ever need. Completists will want to buy his individual books, but with the exception of a gem here & there, you'll likely find that you're not missing much. One exception might be the long hand-written section of poems & drawings about ancient Egypt in "Elegiac Feelings American." Definitely a must-have for any fan of the beats, and possibly for those looking for something less wild & experimental than the other beats.

If you like Ginsberg, you'll undoubtedly love Corso. If there is to be any collection that represents his art, this is it. I found out about Corso through a Professor at the old College I used to attend while I was writing some of my own work, and practicing with the art of poetry. For any writers and readers of poetry, if you want something out there, stretching the boundaries of form, if you want beat poetry at its heart, this is the book for you.

I was all prepared not to like this book... but by the time I was 3/4 through...it won me over. It's really very good...no wonder Corso inspired his famous friends.

Mindfield is an expansive retrospective of poems by one Gregorio Anuzio Corso. This guy is one of the original Beats. He was part of the original seven of Ginsberg, Kerouac, Burroughs, Huncke, Holmes, Cassidy and Corso. Corso wrote an excellent collection called Gasoline which is generously represented in this book. This volume also includes poems from Corsos books for New Directions. Poems like Bomb and Marriage are Beat classics. Long Live Man should be retitled Long Live Corso! Corso never attained the level of noteriety of Ginsberg, Kerouac or Burroughs but there is work in this collection that will really make you wonder why. Shorter poems like Italian Extravaganza and I Am 25 really hit the spot. (amazingly Corso can still pull off I Am 25 at readings even as he reaches the age of 70) This is American poetry by an American original. It would be great to see Corso garner the recognizion that he has so long deserved.

this book is an absolute dream for those of us who were not able to join Kesey and the Merry Pranskters first hand. And after reading Electric Koolaid it was nice to hear first hand what went on. I loved this book. ---young but still on the bus