Devil's Lunch

The powerful and deeply moving work of the Serbian poet Aleksandar Ristovic, published for the first time in the United states.
"Make me a long coat of heavy cloth, tailor, "
"the kind that won't fray, "
"and of a dark color, "
"so no one will notice the cigarette ashes."
"Make the [...]
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The powerful and deeply moving work of the Serbian poet Aleksandar Ristovic, published for the first time in the United states.
"Make me a long coat of heavy cloth, tailor, "
"the kind that won't fray, "
"and of a dark color, "
"so no one will notice the cigarette ashes."
"Make the dark trousers of the same material, "
"to last as long as I want them to, "
"wearing them to visit many cities, villages, "
"and other out-of-the-way places."
" * * * * *"
"Make me a dark jacket, tailor, with wide, deep pockets"
"to clench my fists in, while watching the one"
"they're dragging from my table into the bushes, "
"which begin to shake after a few moments."
-from "Gingerbread Heart"
Whether addressing pigs, speaking for prostitutes, or considering lavatories, the great Serbian poet Ristovic (1933-94) revealed a capacious yet unsentimental sympathy with the despised, downtrodden, and disregarded. "Devil's Lunch," hitherto unpublished in America, is a quirky and moving selection of his work greatly enriched by Charles Simic's earthy and authentic translations. Simic, himself a Pulitzer Prize-winning contemporary poet, allows us to fully appreciate a major talent who always spoke with humor, honesty, and compassion.