The Chinese Nightingale and Other Poems

About this book

A nightingale sings in an imagined China, while an American poet fills the air with drumbeats, colour and the energy of public performance. Vachel Lindsay's verse was meant to be heard as much as read.

The Chinese Nightingale and Other Poems ranges through historical fantasy, religious feeling and the unusual musical experiments that made Lindsay famous. His exotic imagery often reflects the stereotypes of his period and deserves scrutiny. Even on the printed page, the rhythms press outward, and suggesting a voice that can scarcely be contained by the typography.