Earth erect

`Earth Erect' is the most recent work by a major European poet, the Yugoslav Vasko Popa. Born in 1922 in Grebenac, Banat, Vasko Popa now lives in Belgrade where he works as editor for a publishing house. He has published four previous books of verse. His poetic achievement has been recognized by such major awards as the Austrian State Prize for Literature, and his poems have become well known in English translation through the publication of his `Selected Poems' (Penguin, 1969). Vasko Popa has twice appeared at the Poetry International festival in London, in 1969 and again in 1973. He also visited the International Writing Program at Iowa in 1970. Ted Hughes writes of `Earth Erect': `This is a great celebration of Vasko Popa's national roots. His universal language of X-ray images works here as beautifully as ever. When the poetic texture of the verbal code is cancelled (though these are lucid, skilful translations) we are not left with rhetorical mysteries or waywardness. Instead, we have solid hieroglyphic objects, meaningful in a direct way, simultaneously solid and spiritual, plain-statement and visionary, reminiscent of Kekulé's whirling dream snake. It is unique art, and lucky with its translator.'