For my birthday, father bought me a copy of John Ashberry’s The Tennis Court Oath.

I had asked for that book because I was trying to get into Ashberry. I liked him, I’m influenced by him, but I also knew there was something that was missing.

The Tennis Court Oath was not his first book (I believe it was his second), but it was the one that exploded him onto the national poetic consciousness (whatever that is).

While it still has his trademark speed of thought, his fast directional changes, and intensely urban feel, it is also different from his later works.

Among other things, it is surprisingly romantic – something that he is not known for (though his most recent book of original poetry was praised for containing some rare love poems; but The Tennis Court Oath doesn’t contain ‘love poems,’ but is merely touched by romantic love) – as well as political, again not what you expect from Ashberry.

And yes, you can see why he and the other New York School poets flipped things upside down when they broke out.

Great book.