Padam Padam: The Collected Poems

Padam Padam celebrates legendary San Francisco poet Kevin Killian’s wit and verve in this collection of long out-of-print poetry that tracks his pop culture obsessions, poetic experimentation, and engagements as a friend, lover, and correspondent. Puckish poet, playwright, novelist, scholar, mentor, and impresario of the Bay Area arts community, Kevin Killian channeled the charisma of pop icons, inspiring everyone around him to *be stars.* Published in his lifetime and now long out of print, the volumes collected here have become touchstones of irreverent, kaleidoscopic camp. In Argento Series, Killian conjures the horror, suspense, and cinematic imagery of director Dario Argento as he documents the AIDS epidemic in San Francisco.

In Action Kylie, he revels in queer identity and the universal love of fandom. In Tweaky Village and Tony Greene Era, Killian elevates artists and friends to legendary status within his personal pantheon. And Elements, Killian’s wink at the periodic table, makes its U. S.

debut. Named after Kylie Minogue’s electrifying anthem, Padam Padam pulses with camp, longing, and euphoria. The collection features an introduction by Kay Gabriel.