Still Life with Children

"There is real wisdom in these pages. It has to do with looking. Parcerisas knows the complex and mysterious arts of perspective and Cassells sings so effortlessly in English, making of each of us "an audience for / a honey-rich buzzing of bees." In this book, one finds a kind of vision that approaches both past and present, that makes sense of the impossible confusion of our moment, for somehow there is such piercing clarity in these words, they become talismanic.

When faced with a major talent such as this one, all one can do is quote in gratitude. Luckily, even words for gratitude are well used in this book: "Thank you angel . Thank you, /demons of the night. Thank you, winter." Thank you Francesc Parcerisas and Cyrus Cassells for making poetry so clear and alive for us in this second decade of the strangest of centuries."  —Ilya Kaminsky

 

Cyrus Cassells’ translations grow on the page as though the essence of Francesc Parcerisas’ work has also moved forward in a Janus-like fashion. These translations are not simply the same poems in a different language; Cassells has crafted new poetry. The ultimate product of his labors is a collection of poetry that reads and feels like a work of English literature, a sensation that is perhaps the highest compliment one may bestow upon a literary translation.”  —Thomas Rodgers Endersby