A consummate storyteller, Julia Older captures the saga of America reinventing itself in this remarkable book-length poem. From Serendipity Sarah's jive birthing to the MBA Sufi Master's closing prophetic parables, Hermaphroditus embraces America. Born as one, the male and female persona separate and go their own ways. Herman (whose alter ego is the Greek trickster god Hermes) enters the 21st century delivering messages to the World Bank and corporate America. Hermione, who is more of an earth goddess, takes to the streets as a reporter, stopping at soup kitchens and shelters to interview the homeless. Through a colorful array of characters and forms (chants, pantoums, sonnets, dialogue, free verse), Older takes us on a multi-textured and many-layered odyssey. She has read and discussed the poignant "homeless" poems and popular "Bowwowski" review over NH Public Radio's "The Front Porch," and was videotaped reading excerpts as guest poet at "What Poetry Might Do," a 9/11 presentation at St Anselm College. Preview XXVII (SOUP KITCHEN) Sleepless, they hold out their bowls for soup huddled in clouds of midnight steam, dark creatures with one hope, sustenance ladled in a hot bright stream by an angel of mercy who smiles and stoops, haloed in street light as if in a dream. Sleepless, they hold out their bowls for soup huddled in clouds of midnight steam. Hunkered under the grate, they look up but only their white bowls may be seen floating like stars in a telescope, numbered and recorded, without name. Sleepless, they hold out their bowls for soup huddled in clouds of midnight steam. Hermaphroditus In America begins with a Prologue and is divided into Six Parts (each titled with a quote from Shakespeare's "The Ages of Man"). An Epilogue and Notes follow the poem."Sleeping Hermaphrodite" on the front cover (Hellenistic Sculpture 2nd BCE, Cushion & Mattress by Bernini, Louvre) is reproduced through the permission of Eric Lessing/Art Resource of New York.
	HERMAPHRODITUS IN AMERICA  Julia Older  $16.00 (160 pp) Quality Trade Paperback  Appledore Books, 2000  ISBN 0962716294  Prompt shipment Autographed copies available! Click here for info. Order this book using PayPal: Click here to see both ways to order.