This was an AMAZING collection of poetry, one of my favorites from Ferlinghetti yet. He manages to encapsulate the majority of a continent with his careful, measured lines that radiate exquisite beauty and delves into subject matter in a brilliant, and surprisingly palatable, fashion. I was struck by the words, the setting, the mystique, the entirety of what this collection has to offer. It was truly great, in all senses of the word, and I am a little surprised that not more people have read it- as it offers much to admire and enjoy in terms of poetry.

5 stars- rightfully earned! ( )

Ferlinghetti whirls about, in a pirouette, images of France, Italy, Netherlands, Germany rebounding from his retina like a telecom satellite that tripped over space junk and now mixes API photos with old movie stills with sitcom episodes. And yet, like a painter, he captures the slant of the light against the wall, and the fluttering shadows left by Pound, Barnes, Mozart...others , who can be seen - look quick! ...just over there? And now and then he pauses, and lingers long enough to show some ghostly companions ..."A Dark Portrait"... "The Photo of Emily"...then whoosh, on again, on again, on. ( )