Many of the poems in Duende de Burque are odes and homages to Albuquerque and New Mexico, and many of them rhyme, with the driving, irregular beats of hip-hop. González writes of religion and spiritual seeking as he entertains and impresses within the carnival of poetry competition. And then he ushers us into a hushed hall, where he uses all the same skills for a moment of grace.--Jennifer Levin, Santa Fe New Mexican

Manuel González's poet-duende swaggers through the Burque streets, orgullosamente, con honor y respeto. His duende loco is proud, honoring, and respectful. But González's duende also speaks in parables of poetic hard-truths that prompt us to think, feel, muse, and ask questions about ourselves and the worlds we inhabit.--Levi Romero, Inaugural New Mexico Poet Laureate and author of A Poetry of Remembrance: New and Rejected Works

Manuel González's poet-duende swaggers through the Burque streets, orgullosamente, con honor y respeto. His duende loco is proud, honoring, and respectful. But González's duende also speaks in parables of poetic hard-truths that prompt us to think, feel, muse, and ask questions about ourselves and the worlds we inhabit.--Levi Romero, Inaugural New Mexico Poet Laureate and author of A Poetry of Remembrance: New and Rejected Works

Manny is sharing more than trade secrets when it comes to being this city's Poet Laureate. In this collection, you get equal parts 'the joys of the job' and 'the job of the joy.'--Hakim Bellamy, Inaugural Albuquerque Poet Laureate and author of Swear