Before Saying Any
of the Great Words:
Selected Poems

“Schafer has achieved a titanic task, selecting from Huerta’s fiercely personal early books, up to his recent work, texts that embody the poet’s constant concerns, but also their development and variations. The book is thus an exciting introduction, for English-speaking readers, to Huerta’s poetry. The translations are both a faithful and creative rendering of the originals, revealing Schafer’s empathy for the work. Schafer’s translations recreate these delicate nuances with fluid transparency. We cannot but applaud Mark Schafer’s refinement in his selection and translation of one of the most relevant living poets in the Spanish language…” -Adriana Díaz Enciso, Review: Literature and Arts of the Americas

“Schafer makes Huerta, who might be seen as ‘difficult,’ accessible to readers without sacrificing any of the startling images, leaps of meaning, and emotional resonance the poet uses to great effect… Those who are interested in the poetry of our close neighbor to the south, or simply good poetry, will find David Huerta’s latest collection a remarkable and satisfying read.” —Foreword

“For the first time, American readers will discover that Mexican poetry has continued in the tradition of greats like Octavio Paz and Jose Emilio Pacheco, but also that writers like Huerta have transported Mexico’s poetic legacy onto a whole new plane of the imagination.” —Bloomsbury Review