Iván Argüelles

Field Hollers Iván Argüelles

The authors describe this long poem like this: "Field Hollers was born of insomnia, trading stanzas largely predawn, back and forth before light harrowed." This sequence of stanzas consists of a sort of dialogue, a back-and-forth between 2 "twins" (ie, 2 voices, not 2 sets of twins) who constantly switch places, go into reverse, or speak as one voice, so much so that there is little distinction, really, between them. They become a single double voice, and talk on a metaphoric and metaphysical plane in language that is achingly beautiful and resonant. This is a unique and extraordinary work, and can be read, and reread, in one sitting, and again and again and again. - John M. Bennett