Poetry Reading by Cedar Sigo

Cedar Sigo reads from his new collection published by City Lights Books

Stranger in Town is the much-anticipated second collection by San Francisco poet Cedar Sigo. Reflecting queer identity while eschewing clichéd aesthetics, Stranger exudes an urban mysticism redolent of the SF Renaissance—particularly John Wieners—as it collages the fragmented experience of contemporary culture. Among its highlights are the sublime long poem, "Music for Torching," written in collaboration with Nathan Berlinguette and Will Yackulic, the translation of "Villon," the biographical "Notes on Joan Crawford," and prose meditations on poetry like "The Sun" and "The Emerald Tablet."

"It's a pleasure to curl up with and be challenged by [Sigo's poetry], driven to push one's living further. In this new century, there is without doubt further territory for poetry to enter into, and Sigo embraces what is currently available and holds out an offering for the future."
—Patrick Dunagan