Crystal Gazing the Amber Fluid

and Other Wobbly Poems

by Carlos Cortez

Publication date: January 1990
Paperback: $9.00

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Son of a Mexican Wobbly father and a German socialist-pacifist mother, Carlos Cortez served 2 years in the federal pen at Sandstone for refusing to fight the bosses (ie Second World) War, and shortly afterward joined the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW). Ever since - as poet, artist, editor and public speaker - he has been one of the union's best-known figures. This is the first collection of his poems - illustrated throughout with his powerful woodcuts and cartoons. Passionate tributes to Joe Hill and other Wobbly martyrs; lyrics protesting war and racial injustice; humorous assaults on modern technology and moving celebrations of biodiversity - all the poems of Carlos Cortez exemplify the old IWW slogan - Let's make this planet a good place to live. Eugene Nelson contributes a short Introductory essay.