coldfront review of david huerta

Before Saying Any of the Great Words marks the first comprehensive translation of Mexican poet David Huerta into English. Divided into three sections, it presents an overview of Huerta’s early work – El jardín de la luz, Cuaderno de Noviembre, and Versión, winner of the Xavier Villarrutia Prize – alongside selections from his 1986 book-length poem Incurable, the longest poem in Mexican history, and a generous amount of new work written in the time since. The result is a substantial look into the work of one of Mexico’s most renowned poets and his stylistic and thematic evolution from the time of his first publication at age 22 to today.