Firecracker Soup, Cinco Puntos Press, 1990 - Review by Roy Durfee

Hello. Some poets love to lavish their listeners with language but Placitas, New Mexico writer Larry Goodell prefers the simpler wonder of working with words. Those words may be stacked together in columns up and down the page or constructed into higher literary form but however he chooses to arrange them those words are responsive to eye ear mind and the environment of the New Mexico high desert where he has lived for most of his 55 years. Goodell’s often musical words are drawn from an enthusiastic awareness of as many roles in life as son nephew husband father bookseller poet publisher gardener homesteader neighbor and lover of life on this planet. With the publication of Firecracker Soup by Cinco Puntos Press Goodell has drawn together the first book length collection of his work in over 20 years, giving us a sampling of the word play in theater that makes his work unique. Even though the new book is folio, traditionally bound and full of words carefully arranged on the pages, the role of many of those words in performance is made clear by stage and costuming directions in the margins and photos of Larry in full performance regalia. In one instance a hand drawn staff provides a couple of measures of music with which to intone “O Fair New Mexico.”

Left Right Center - photo by Lenore Goodell

While Goodell is very much in touch with his times and unafraid to launch poli
tical tirades he is most comfortably rooted in the New Mexico soil that provides food for his table, wood for his fire and shapes to please his soul while feeling clearly alienated for much of what he reads in the paper, sees on television or experiences in the encroaching suburbanization of his mountain town. Goodell recognizes fully his place in a community of artists friends and family and his book is liberally provided with poems dedicated to those cherished people. As for the community of poets, Larry recognizes John Milton and Robert Duncan but balks at cowboy poets, coyote poets, nature poets, language poets and just about any other product of packaging. Larry Goodell has insisted on being himself this long. He's not likely to stop now. While much of his best work is performance based Firecracker Soup is more various than that. Goodell's sensibility can leap from the page and linger in the mind. While I presume Firecracker Soup is available at quality bookstores everywhere I know there's a big stack on the counter of the Living Batch on Cornell where the poet occasionally works. Thanks Larry, I enjoyed it. This is Roy Durfee for KUNM, Evening Report. 1990

Roy Durfee's reviews on KUNM-FM in Albuquerque were some of the best aired - reviews of jazz, poetry, performances of all kinds, He voiced his careful writings to a very responsive and considerable audience informing us all of notable events in Northern New Mexico. He provided me with the recording of this review and I easily transcribed it using Microsoft's OneNote. Thank you, Mr. Durfee.