Said Beauty to the Blues
Sharp, entertaining poetry from a veteran of the 1990s poetry slam movement, combining wit, insight, rapid-fire observation, and a voice built for the stage.
Book Snapshot
Poetry with the Energy of a Live Performance
Said Beauty to the Blues showcases the range of Phoenix poet Bill Campana. A veteran of the 1990s poetry slam movement, Campana writes in many styles while maintaining a voice that is immediate, observant, witty, and distinctly his own.
Onstage, his short, powerful linguistic observations can arrive with machine-gun momentum. On the page, readers have the opportunity to slow down, revisit each image, and give every turn of phrase its due. The result is a collection that preserves the force of live performance while rewarding close reading.
Why Read Said Beauty to the Blues?
Wit and Insight
Campana pairs sharp humor with unexpected observations, finding revealing connections in ordinary objects, habits, and cultural language.
Performance on the Page
The poems carry the rhythm, compression, and immediacy of poetry written by an experienced live performer and poetry slam veteran.
A Distinctive Voice
This collection does not soften its personality to fit a single audience. Its range of styles and ideas is held together by Campana’s singular perspective.
Perfect for Readers Who Enjoy...
- Contemporary American poetry
- Poetry slam and spoken-word traditions
- Short, image-rich poems
- Humor blended with social observation
- Poetry written for both page and stage
- Unexpected metaphors and wordplay
- Independent poets with distinctive voices
- Poetry rooted in the Phoenix literary community
Praise for Said Beauty to the Blues
“An amazing combination of wit and insight. A rare blending of creativity and solid modern poetry. Bill Campana is one of the most influential poets in Phoenix, Arizona. This is a great read.”— Neil Gearns
“Loved it!”— Paula Privitera
Read an Excerpt
the art of ice cubes in bourbon
seduced by the convoluted
viewed through a convex lens
glass chandeliers crowded
in a lights-out situation
a drowning clown show
depending on the color scheme
a shipwreck settled in an amber sea
a media frenzy during happy hour
the art of ice cubes in bourbon
crystal dice rolled into a pool of spirits
snake eyes and boxcars
submerged in a dusky afterthought
awaken from this brief trance…resume game
the art of ice cubes in bourbon
Excerpt from Said Beauty to the Blues by Bill Campana.
Buy Said Beauty to the Blues
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About Bill Campana
Bill Campana is a Phoenix poet and veteran of the 1990s poetry slam movement. Known for live performances built from short, powerful linguistic observations, he writes with humor, speed, range, and an eye for the strange connections hiding inside everyday life.
“I’m going to do something great today. And if I don’t, at least I will be able to say that I said I would do something great.”
— Bill Campana
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