NEW POEMS
by Günter Grass
The world, in this new collection of poems, is about to end—not in a bang but a furious, frustrated mutter ("Napalm, napalm"). In the original German which accompanies the English translation of each poem, there is splendid sound and fury. English, unfortunately, lacks the explosive effects and the poems lose considerably. There are quieter ones about family and daily life—a "Taking Breath"—a respite from the ominous character of modern existence doomed to anger, protest and death. Certainly many readers will appreciate the parallel German text which is necessary to convey the full effect of the orchestration of spit, snarl and impotent despair of the original.