On the Edge

This book is comprised of two discursive poems: a diaristic account of Koch's impressions of Africa and the autobiographical title poem. Despite the similar free-wheeling, elliptical, run-on style, the first has a pretense to objectivitywe are given some idea of what the place actually looks likewhereas the latter, a tour of the deeper recesses of the poet's mind, often borders on incomprehensibility. We are in the presence of a charming, witty fellow who is absolutely fascinated by and caught up in the stream of his own consciousness. Koch is a good deal more fun than most poets, but the future of this kind of extreme solipsism and style-for-style's sake is debatableKoch simply does not have John Ashbery's weight. These poems are pop-bead collections of associative moments that never quite rise above their occasions. (March)