Burnt Sugar Cana Quemada: Contemporary Cuban Poetry in English and Spanish

By Lori Marie Carlson

Book Overview

Here are the sights, sounds, and rhythms of Cuba, revealed in the evocative works of some of the finest Cuban and Cuban American poets of the twentieth century. In Burnt Sugar, bestselling translator Lori Marie Carlson and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Oscar Hijuelos have created an intimate collection of some of their favorite modern poems, all of which are informed by cuban a -- the essence of what it means to be Cuban. "Cuban" in this sense refers neither to ideology nor to geography but rather to the distinguishing characteristics of Cuban poetry as it has developed over time: clever verbal play, overt rhythmic notes, and an intensity of longing, whether religious, political, or amorous.

Many of these poems have never been translated into English before, and taken together they, as the editors say, "produce a vibrant, satisfying sound and vivid imagery. They allow for some understanding of modern-day preoccupations, contradictions, feelings, and attitudes considered to be Cuban." Stirring, immediate, and universal in its sensibility, Burnt Sugar is a luminous collection lovingly compiled by two of the world's foremost authorities on the subject.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0743276620
• ISBN13: 9780743276627
• Release Date: August 2006
• Publisher: Free Press
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.7" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

A powerful, moving collection of beautiful poetry.

Being a big fan of Oscar Hijuelo's works and having the occasion to meet him a few times while I worked at a camera store in New York, I brought my wife and mother in law (both Cuban) to a reading and book-signing at R.J. Julia in Madison,CT. As we reacquaninted one another and settled in, one of the poems was read aloud by Lori Carlson. Tears and nods of happiness came to both of their faces as Lizette Mendez's "Secretos" was read, with it's simple yet beautiful references that any Cuban can idenify with. Mind you,Lori read this in it's hybrid english-spanish mix. The poetry that is presented in Spanish (also translated to English, except for 4) is even more profound and beautiful upon reading them. This collection is simply wonderful,giving the reader a better sense of what incredible talent abides in that island. While you have the yearnings for one's homeland and how one deals with daily life ( "I have always lived in Cuba", for one ) there are also poems of love and passion ("Loving you is a way of being ")and other topics, all in the context of coming from a proud, glorious people that we getting a chance to better observe and understand. Kudos to Oscar Hijuelos for going to visit his family and coming back with these wonderful works and kudos plus to Lori Carlson for her wonderful and thoughtful translations of these works to English. The fact that the translations stand along as great prose in English serves notice that this work is one that every person interested in Cuba & it's arts should pick up.