Grady Harp (at the Amazon.com)
HENRY DENANDER lives in both his homeland in Stockholm, Sweden and on Hydra Island in Greece.
His first poetry was published in 1999 - but that is difficult to believe after reading the contents of
this book THE ACCIDENTAL NAVIGATOR. After spending years as part of the 'business' or 'nut and
bolts' side of the entertainment industry he has now completely committed to the 'nuts' side and is
not only writing poetry and short fiction but also acting as editor and publishing poetry.
Denander's poetry follows no schemata of formal poetry - no sonnets here, no rhyming couplets to
THE ACCIDENTAL NAVIGATOR
MODERN TIMES
Denander's poetry follows no schemata of formal poetry - no sonnets here, no rhyming couplets to
get in the way of his fluid communication. Reading his poems is akin to glancing across the fence,
noticing something of interest, then turning away, the imprint on the retina and brain firmly placed
but the imagination has only started to play with the visual image. And that is how automatic his
poems flow. As a starter, examine the title poem of this collection:
THE ACCIDENTAL NAVIGATOR
Scientists in Spain now claim
it's not Christopher Columbus
who's buried in the
magnificent Sevilla cathedral
but his son;
there was a mix-up when the
remains were moved
in the 17th century.
Columbus discovered
America but we all know
he believed he'd actually
reached Asia.
And when he landed on Cuba.
he was certain
he was in Japan.
Now it seems he's lost
in Sevilla as well.
Or he can bask in fun ideas and social comments as in the following:
MODERN TIMES
My doctor has given me
Botox and Zoloft to try to
relieve my headaches.
Botox is a common
ingredient when you do
facelifts and Zoloft is
one of the most common
anti-depressants.
I am a Modern Man; these are
the drugs of our times.
Only the Viagra is missing,
my wife said.
Nice try.
Henry Denander may be Swedish by birth but he certainly has a strong take on the American psyche -
or is that simply the human psyche. He'll let us know. Sort of an updated John Berryman, this work,
but a touch more touching! Oh, and he is an artist, too....
- Grady Harp, September, 2011 at amazon.com
- Grady Harp, September, 2011 at amazon.com