Song of Napalm

This collection of poems by Vietnam veteran Bruce Weigl provides “a searing memento of the war that refuses to be forgotten” (San Francisco Chronicle). “Song of Napalm is more than a collection of beautifully wrought, heart-wrenching a... Read more

This collection of poems by Vietnam veteran Bruce Weigl provides “a searing memento of the war that refuses to be forgotten” (San Francisco Chronicle). “Song of Napalm is more than a collection of beautifully wrought, heart-wrenching and often very funny poems. It’s a narrative, the story of an American innocent’s descent into hell and his excruciating return to life on the surface. Weigl may have written the best novel so far about the Vietnam War, and along the way a dozen truly memorable poems.” —Russell Banks “Song of Napalm is one of the best books of any genre about the war—and about human endurance.” —The Kansas City Star “Weigl bears true witness to the reality of war, and his work takes its place alongside the strongest war poetry of this century.” —The Hudson Review “Reading these poems I am struck with something close to awe for the resilience of the human body and the human heart. I can only compare Song of Napalm with the remarkable poetry of Wilfred Owen and Robert Graves. I cherish Bruce Weigl’s poetry as a great gift.” —Larry Heinemann, author of Paco’s Story Less