Poetry. Latino/a Studies. The Nicaraguan-born poet Salomon de la Selva poses a unique and fascinating case in the recovery of U.S. Hispanic literature. The challenge of studying de la Selva's first published collection of poetry, TROPICAL TOWN AND OTHER POEMS, arises as soon as we attempt to trace its literary lineage.... TROPICAL TOWN represents the first English-language collection of poetry by a Hispanic writer in the United Sates -- a fact unknown to most scholars and students of Hispanic-American literature ... The hopes and visions within the pages of this poetic collection seek to move and inspire the American reader as well as reflecting the hopes and aspirations of Hispanic-Americans. TROPICAL TOWN constitutes de la Selva's call to all of us to build a bridge of understanding and solidarity between the continent's English- and Spanish-speaking peoples -- Silvio Sirias, from the Introduction.