Temporary Help: Poems

By John Engman and Cleo Qian

A posthumously published collection of work by an entirely original Midwestern poet.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0930100824
• ISBN13: 9780930100827
• Release Date: April 1998
• Publisher: Holy Cow Press
• Length: 96 Pages
• Weight: 0.44 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.8" x 8.8"

Customer Reviews

He'll charm your socks off!

What an amazing collection. So tragic that we'll never see any more from Engman. His voice is unique, witty, modest and so congenial. And his "serious" stuff is powerful too. He's like a younger, hipper Billy Collins. English teachers: If you want "approachable" poetry to introduce students to the art form, much of Engman's is perfect!

one of the essential underappreciated poets of the '90's

John Engman's tragic death is our gain, as this posthumus collection brings together 40+ previously uncollected poems by this legend of Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis: a tender, unassuming genuis of comic wit and tragic irony. Many of Engman's classic poems, previously collected in "keeping still, mountain" are missing here, but there are a plethora of surprises, and literally hundreds of magic moments. My favorite poem is "Lemon Sun." Engman is a must poet for young contemporary poets seeking an alternative voice to workshop cynacism and writing program predictability. John comes at you from an infinite number of directions. Not all of these angles work, but when one does, it is unforgettable.