Same Diff by Donato Mancini meets at the intersection of contemporary poetry, art, and current politics. Influenced by documentary cinema such as the films of Frederic Wiseman, Dada poets, montage techniques, and a range of modern poets, Same Diff explores the way social and economic histories become imprinted within language itself.
The political and poetic melancholy of our moment is revealed in a long poem on climate change, particularly the disappearance of snow, while the real-life effects of fiscal austerity and poverty are voiced in fragments conveying social neuroses that stem from amplified, unfair competition for basic necessities.
The nonce forms of Same Diff draw attention to their construction and history using monotype fonts, speaking to the surfaces of words and paper, and diverging from a sole focus on meaning.
Each poem introduces a dominant motif that develops through repetition and incremental variations, sourcing language from news-papers, online sources, and overheard conversations to create an emotive effect, as felt in music.
Short-listed 2018 Grffin Poetry Prize
"A book of 35 works that stands on top of itself, looking down upon itself, belly bulging, self-awareness, reconstructivism, both respectful of these realities and respectful of the reader. In fact, have I read such a polite and inviting work in all the other realms and moments of my life?" —Yellow Rabbits
"[h]e is a custodian of language who returns it to us cleaned.”— 2018 Griffin Poetry Prize Jury
news | 2018-04-10
Same Diff is a finalist for the Griffin!
…We are thrilled to announce that Same Diff , the latest collection of poetry by Donato …
news | 2017-08-16
Talon poets in Contemporary Verse 2: Convergence
…Pound @ Guantánamo (2016), and Donato Mancini’s Same Diff (2017) – and these are only the books I know; …
news | 2017-06-05
Donato Mancini will be writer in residence at the University of Windsor this fall
…bookworks, and visual art. His latest book, Same Diff meets at the intersection of poetry, contemporary …
news | 2017-04-06
New poetry in house, right on time for National Poetry Month!
…Kolewe ( Inspecting Nostalgia ), Donato Mancini ( Same Diff ), and Jónína Kirton ( An Honest Woman ) are now …
news | 2017-03-22
March 25–31: Anahita Jamali Rad, Danielle LaFrance, and Donato Mancini on tour in California
…coast! The poets read from their latest works – Same Diff, Friendly + Fire, and for love and autonomy – in …
news | 2017-03-06
Same Diff has arrived!
…collection of Spring 2017 is now available! Same Diff ($16.95) by Donato Mancini meets at the … montage techniques, and a range of modern poets, Same Diff explores the way social and economic histories … create an emotive effect, as felt in music. About Same Diff, Jordan Scott has written, What a necessity it is … Launch in late April to hear Mancini read from Same Diff. …
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