We look at poems that work and try to figure out what's doing the lifting.
Formal, experimental, lyric, narrative. Mostly contemporary. Scroll down.⬇😀
Sunday, April 12, 2015
The Flower from which Forgetfulness, by Cynthia Marie Hoffman
For context, "lying-in" refers to childbirth or the rest period afterward. I like the sense of urgency created by the run-on language. The delirium conveyed through the mixing up of "melody" and "lemony" and through the confusion of green sky with grass. A poem that combines heaven and earth, childbirth.
The Flower from which Forgetfulness
Lie down beneath this tree this is the lying-in
velvety sweet this is the green sky dripping with
trumpets do you hear anything if you hear something
you will not remember it the insect that pricks your
arm flick it away you have much to do here do you
smell something lemony twilight the scent is narcotic
wipe the melody from your mind wipe the lemony
you may feel something but you will forget it don't
bother to scream just push do what the doctor
who is not here tells you to allow the invisible
nurses have you forgotten them already to touch you
these are the plants of the gods the hell's bells
the devil's weed push the baby comes in the grass
someone wraps her in a towel and hands
her to you now ah the trumpets swinging the angels
struggling to keep their lips to the stems, sleepy baby.
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