Caconrad Libros

A visceral, surrealist tale of becoming, from the shamanic cult hero of contemporary queer poetry Beguiling, outrageous, playfully morbid and frequently stunning in its surreal flights of imagination, The Book of Frank follows the eponymous figure as he grows from his troubled childhood into an adult travesty of the ostensibly straight family man in a male-dominated world. Along the way, he navigates a series of darkly comic situations, commits acts of grotesque violence, loses his soul in the post and debates boundary lines with a pig. Frank is one of the great literary creations: a man who can declare that 'however we seek another's weakness is our tyranny', as often touchingly innocent as he is monstrously cruel. Called 'a contemporary masterpiece' by Thurston Moore, a 'desert island book' by Anne Boyer and 'this generation's Dream Songs' by Maggie Nelson, The Book of Frank is one of the crucial poetic works of this century so far. Now, on the 30th anniversary of the first Frank poems' appearance, it is published in the UK for the first time.

CAConrad's ECODEVIANCE contains twenty-three new (Soma)tic writing exercises and their resulting poems, in which he pushes his political and ecological efforts even further. These exercises, unorthodox steps in the writing process, work to break the reader and writer out of the quotidian and into a more politically and physically aware present. In performing these rituals, CAConrad looks through a sharper lens and confirms the necessity of poetry and politics.

From one of the greatest poetic minds of our century comes the latest collection from CAConrad.

Shifting focus from extinct animals to those currently living, this work emphasizes the importance of communication and care for our present-day animal companions. Building on the themes of connection found in the previous book, it explores the relationship between humans and the animal kingdom, encouraging a deeper understanding and appreciation for the creatures that share our world. This transition reflects a commitment to nurturing the living beings around us.

Focusing on queer fandom, the book delves into the profound influence of Elvis through the lens of legendary poet CAConrad. It offers a heartfelt examination of how the iconic figure resonates within the LGBTQ+ community, highlighting themes of identity, belonging, and the enduring impact of music and culture. The narrative intertwines personal reflections with broader cultural commentary, celebrating the unique connection fans have with Elvis and the transformative power of art in shaping lives.

Eighteen new (Soma)tic exercises that strive for human connection and political action.

A captivating, original call for creative freedom from one of the most singular poets of our time 'this mechanistic world . . . has required me to FIND MY BODY to FIND MY PLANET in order to find my poetry' Since their inception in 2005, CAConrad's (soma)tic poems have acted as an urgent appeal for an embodied, unfettered creative practice. Rooted in the Sanskrit 'soma', meaning 'to press and be newly born', and the Greek-derived 'somatic', relating to the body, Conrad's (soma)tic poetry reaches out from electrifying, esoteric rituals. Their methods are elaborate, and the results are unexpected: one, for instance, might begin by seeing the poet flood their body with the field calls of extinct animals - and end not only in a consideration of survivor's guilt and the destruction of ecosystems, but also in an elated sense of the presence, close at hand, of the many friends and lovers they lost to AIDS. Conrad draws on these rituals to enter a political, physical and spiritual state of consciousness, meditating on ecology, queerness and grief in powerful, dreamlike poetry that invites us to engage with the essence of things. This new selection is a testimony to poetry's capacity to reconnect us with the present moment and put an end to the alienation we feel: from our bodies, our surroundings, our planet.