Anna Rabinowitz's third book of poetry, The Wanton Sublime, explores with vigor and precision the mythology and the person of Mary as the virgin mother. Here are some favourite passages:
(what dreams hammer to a stop--?)
(what dreams hammer to a stop--?)
from "Unarmed, unwarned..."
THE VERTIGINOUS THRILL OF EXACTITUDE STEALS AWAY
from "Quick"
(O lassitude of folds unfolding)
*
HER EYES CANNOT DENY
THE OBLIGATION TO PERCEIVE AN OTHER
from "Speculum and Shade"
The divine descends as weather
a sudden rain flecked with gold
a chill plunged through smoldering, sparking fire
from "The divine descends as weather"
3. Mornings like this syllables spread their anarchies in the sun...
4. Mornings like this labor to archive subjects/objects of faith...
*
6. Mornings like this the labyrinth holds invention at bay--
MORNING AND MAZE ARE ONE
from "A Disquisition on Unbearable
Conundrums of Being"
his hearken creeps into me
*
Must I do what I have always done--
in a cold sweat and daring nothing,
acquiesce, grip his hand and bleed his way...
from "the Book of Mandate as Helotry"
Overbright
Everbright
INCESSANT SCOUR OF LIGHT
from "A Prolegomenon of
Benedictine Liturgy as Peregrine Song"
In his eyes, pools of light map no pollution, only flame
In her eyes, no flecks, no threads mar the cobalt calm
until his hail scumbles their surface
What is she to make of it
from "It is time to speak of the lies"
For this I, Hekenus, said: your mysteries are not welcome
My mysteries I wield but will not yield
And so to me, tender of gardens, made he tender
And so by me was he denied
the last two stanzas of "Of Ubiquitous Will"
We are water
we are wager
we will be outlived by our intentions
from "The real, the true song"
Cut to her eyes fixed on definition
Cut to the sky attempting arrival
*
Cut to her soul which is body
which is the dust
of an inescapable need
from "The Wanton Sublime"
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