Promises of Gold Written by José Olivarez Translated by David Ruano
José Olivarez writes with masterful complexity, yet his poems are accessible even to the “I don’t understand poetry” readers of the world. In Promises of Gold, he has odes to brotherhood, heartbreak, Mexican culture, and the idea of punching Jeff Bezos. In a casual tone reminiscent of Ross Gay and Danez Smith, Olivarez invites his readers to dance, grieve, and laugh alongside him. José Olivarez makes good on his word: Each poem in this collection is dripping with gold. —HOLLY
