• About

Karen Mary Berr – Poetry & Video

Karen Mary Berr – Poetry & Video

Monthly Archives: June 2016

Ode To Plath, and others

03 Friday Jun 2016

Posted by Karen Mary Berr in Poetry

≈ Leave a comment

You were so sure, Sylvia,
your reason blooming
like a dandelion of iron,
so sure that your own
constellation of words
will never betray you,
never leave you undone
on an ordinary shore.
And Woolf, her dress
floating like a poppy
in the silks of water,
smiled at you, recalling.
What a strange joy it was
that penchant of the mind,
that strict vocation for light.
The eye clear and clinical
dissecting shadows as
if they were mica scales,
denying nothing,
refusing nothing
supressing nothing.
And Celan, his mouth opened,
drowning quietly in the Seine,
caressed your waist —
after Auschwitz, he said,
only language could
help him resurface.
So sure, Sylvia,
yet knowing intelligence
hangs itself on its own rope,
you fastened your heart
to it, as you twisted your hair
against your neck.
And then, it was too late.
Like Mayakovsky’s
your soul crashed
against everyday life.
A bullet through a lily
or flaming poppies
— it’s just the same.
Everything, light and atom
life and death,
was equal, and nothing
could be ugly or bad.
Once again, love —
O Love, here we are.
I press your wine and metal
close to my lips
and I say :
Into your woundless
red sea
Let us go.

Subscribe

  • Entries (RSS)
  • Comments (RSS)

Archives

  • December 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • July 2012

Categories

  • Poetry
  • Uncategorized
  • Video

Meta

  • Register
  • Log in

Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy