Ghetto Koans

A Personal Archive

By: James Cagney

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Paperback | 15 July 2025

At a Glance

Paperback
116 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
21.5 x 13.9 x 0.7

Paperback

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The Japanese word ' koan' is a seemingly unanswerable riddle used by practitioners of Zen Buddhism to trigger spiritual enlightenment and understanding.

Ghetto Koans: A Personal Archive is a vibrant genre-busting collection of voices, observations and memories that trigger nostalgia of a lost time, lost neighborhood, lost city. Cagney masterfully weaves together monologues, documentary-style narratives, and keen observations, offering a profound glimpse into the lives and stories that shape this unique community and beyond. From direct door-to-door salesmen and flirtatious phlebotomists to rotary telephones and an appreciation of clotheslines, each poem serves as a window into the heart of the Bay Area, capturing the raw beauty, struggles, and curious triumphs of its people. Cagney' s words resonate with authenticity and depth, making this collection a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the rich tapestry of urban life.

Experience the power of poetry that transcends boundaries and speaks to the universal human experience. Ghetto Koans: A Personal Archive is a journey through the soul of a community, told with unparalleled honesty and grace.

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