An Oration Upon The Most Recent Death Of Christopher Columbus:

Poetry. Once again available from SPD. will the italians go back to italy/ some have left already for other destinies/ eternal nomads who live in the wastes of australia/ or teaching chemistry in china/ many will stay however/ more comfortable as indians/ than ever they were as theoretical objects... Viscusi's ORATION was written in response to protests against the 1992 celebration of Columbus Day, and eloquently takes into account all the complexities and contradictions of the figure of Columbus. Kathryn Nocerino says, In Bob Viscusi's sumptuous, surreal, yet oddly persuasive design, Columbus continues to accumulate mileage after death... Indian and conqueror change places until America's identity becomes the last and strangest of riddles. Allen Ginsberg writes, Bob Viscusi's Columbus rhapsody is vivid vernacular voluble and full of nervous verve. Saddlestapled chapbook.