Language Being Time

'Some poets live deep back, quietly, in far places, still. I love the poetry of my friend, John Phillips. He is a master of the compressed, cut lyric.' -Kent Johnson.'John Phillips writes with a precision, balance & grace that calls to mind the very best of Louis Zukofsky’s short poems, or Creeley’s early period, or Lorine Niedecker’s work. At his best, Phillips is absolutely dazzling.' -Ron Silliman (On Language Is)'These poems have no extraneous cargo, they are tight as a duck’s butt. And smart. You could write most of these astute and pristine poems on a post-it note and carry it in your pocket for later use.' -Michael Dennis (On Shape of Faith)'Perhaps Phillips’ greatest accomplishment is how he cast out words that create a reality that, nonetheless, evoke that reality that existed pre-words. I am touching quite briefly on the many marvels within the book’s pages. I recommend you look for this book and inhabit it for yourself. You’ll come out of the experience more enlightened than before you began it.' -Eileen Tabios (On Shape of Faith)