Small Arguments

The language of “Small Arguments” is simple, yet there is nothing simple in its ideas. Reminiscent of Pablo Neruda's Elemental Odes, these poems explore the structures of argument, orchestrating material around repetition, variation, and contrast. Thammavongsa's approach is like that of a scientist or philosopher, delicately probing material for meaning and understanding. The poet collects small lives and argues for a larger belonging: a grain of dirt, a crushed cockroach, the eyes of a dead dragonfly. It is a work that suggests we can create with what we know and with that alone.

First published in 2003, “Small Arguments” announced the arrival of a distinct and utterly original new voice.