Last Poems by John Farris

As someone completely ignorant of John Farris (1940–2016) and the New York City poetry scene, I was intrigued when we were contacted regarding Farris’ “Last Poems“.

Being a fan of both poetry and folk art, this poetry collection along with crude handwritten versions and drawings, is right up my alley.

From the marketing materials:

John Farris (1940–2016) was the ultimate gadfly of the New York poetry scene, a universally known and revered genius. Author of the small press novel The Ass’s Tale (Autonomedia, 2010) and poetry collection It’s Not About Time (Fly By Night Press, 1993), these Last Poems are his first widely available works. A collection of drawings along with facsimile and transcribed poems from the end of his life, these documents were unearthed by AE founders Nicodemus Nicoludis and Chris Molnar (who lived next door to Farris during the last years of his life) along with the artist Andrew Castrucci, who co-founded the Bullet Space Urban Arts Collective. It’s a profound monument to a poet who resolutely lived on the margins, and whose voice is all the more important because of it.

In his bio, it says that John “was a fundamental part of the Downtown literary and jazz scenes, a poet, playwright and novelist, bodyguard to Malcolm X.”

It most certainly sounds like he lived an interesting life and those who met him probably have some stories to tell. These poems give you a small glimpse into his world.

VERDICT: If you’re into independent art and poetry, John Farris’ “Last Poems” is a solid offering.

Disclosure: We received a review copy of Last Poems by John Farris and we earn an affiliate commission from Amazon.