From Series #058 the mythic twilight of Jozef Cain’s world meets the quiet surrender of Sylvia Kalina shifting from the resurrected land to the vastness of an empty hand
Ahh, yes!! Homer’s monsters were never about fantasy—they were threshold sentinels revealing the exact limits of human ego. We just went to see The Odyssey over the weekend. So so good!! Did you see it yet?
The beast tests our instinct to fight…
the surrender reveals that there was never anything to protect.
Thank you Mark! I hope you were able to listen to the newest peom with headphones. It unlocks a new layer -- Jozef and I put a lot of extra time into the sound element of this one. We also plan to develop this new style of music / sound healing into the work we do from now on.
The dark connections between the poems is very effective. The physical structure of the Josef’s poem (the form reminds me of Frank Bidart’s style of writing - the look of the poem on the page) lends itself to the realization of “THE BEAST IS NEAR” … which becomes the opening of your poem: “The room is is eating the name” and the closing: “The white specter / of everything surrendered”. They work so well together.
Sam, your comments are so appreciated. It’s so cool to know how others take in the work and see what hits with the most resonance. I know I have been growing as a writer due to following several of my favourite writers here and trying to understand styles different from my own. I am grateful we are in each other’s circles because your work is very inspiring to me, and the work of others that you share. I can’t thank you enough.
Loved this genuine critical insight:
"Homer never asks whether monsters exist. He asks what they reveal about the people who encounter them."
Ahh, yes!! Homer’s monsters were never about fantasy—they were threshold sentinels revealing the exact limits of human ego. We just went to see The Odyssey over the weekend. So so good!! Did you see it yet?
The beast tests our instinct to fight…
the surrender reveals that there was never anything to protect.
Thank you for sitting with us, Jaap.
Last night - I read, I couldn’t find words - speechless, sleep.
Remarkable writing 🙏
Thank you Mark! I hope you were able to listen to the newest peom with headphones. It unlocks a new layer -- Jozef and I put a lot of extra time into the sound element of this one. We also plan to develop this new style of music / sound healing into the work we do from now on.
I did, and the sound / musicality added another dimension to the poetry 🙏
One of the strongest pairings. Yes. Very effective.
Thank you Sam. Jozef and I have always been able to synch our words and rhythms so naturally—and it’s been a bit since we’ve done so, just us two.
It’s a privilege and an honour to have you here with us. 🙏
The dark connections between the poems is very effective. The physical structure of the Josef’s poem (the form reminds me of Frank Bidart’s style of writing - the look of the poem on the page) lends itself to the realization of “THE BEAST IS NEAR” … which becomes the opening of your poem: “The room is is eating the name” and the closing: “The white specter / of everything surrendered”. They work so well together.
Sam, your comments are so appreciated. It’s so cool to know how others take in the work and see what hits with the most resonance. I know I have been growing as a writer due to following several of my favourite writers here and trying to understand styles different from my own. I am grateful we are in each other’s circles because your work is very inspiring to me, and the work of others that you share. I can’t thank you enough.
🙏🏻