In which there are a Guinea Woman, a wild woman, a true sister, a mother, and an unashamed lady
- Reading, books 2016, 154.
152. Guinea Woman, by Lorna Goodison, 2000, is a volume of new and selected poems. There are so many marvellous phrases and images in this collection that I can't even begin to quote them all and Ms Goodison constructs her poems so carefully that strip-mining them wouldn't produce the ore for you to see. My favourite poem is Angel of Dreamers, which has also been set to music (voice, piano, and trombone, 7mins utu) by Eric Ewazen (a faculty member at the Julliard School of Music) in a commission from the Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings. The poem Coir is another favourite of mine. (4/5)
• Extract from Bringing the Wild Woman Indoors, by Lorna Goodison
And as she spoke you saw yourself in her, the wild woman,
your true sister. And you say, "Thank you for being the mad one,
the wild heart, the crazy woman, the Accompong Nanny warrior."
And that's when you brought her to live inside with you forever.
• Extract from The Woman Speaks to the Man Who has Employed Her Son, by Lorna Goodison
She raised him twice, once as mother
then as father, set no ceiling
on what he could be doctor
earth healer, pilot take wings.
But now he tells her is working
for you, that you value him so much
you give him one whole submachine gun
for him alone.
He says you are like a father to him
she is wondering what kind of father
would give a son hot and exploding
death, when he asks him for bread.
She went downtown and bought three
and one-third yard of black cloth
and a deep crowned and veiled hat
for the day he draw his bloody salary.
• Extract from Garden of the Women Once Fallen, by Lorna Goodison (part I only)
Shame Mi Lady [note: vid of mimosa pudica in action, 1min utu]
Lady, what could you have done so
to make you close in on yourself so?
The lady folds her arms across her chest
The lady droops her head between her breasts.
The lady's eyes will not answer yours
Lady, if I tell you my crime
will you tell me yours?
Mine are legend and all to do with love misplaced
yet I've been replanted in this arboreal place,
now, if I can find favour (me with my bold face)
you bashful you shy you innocent lady
must/bound to find absolution/grace.
Come lady, tie bright ribbon-grass around your waist
Let you and I bloom redemption in this place.
This entry was originally posted at http://spiralsheep.dreamwidth.org/596110.html and has
comments Please comment there using OpenID.
152. Guinea Woman, by Lorna Goodison, 2000, is a volume of new and selected poems. There are so many marvellous phrases and images in this collection that I can't even begin to quote them all and Ms Goodison constructs her poems so carefully that strip-mining them wouldn't produce the ore for you to see. My favourite poem is Angel of Dreamers, which has also been set to music (voice, piano, and trombone, 7mins utu) by Eric Ewazen (a faculty member at the Julliard School of Music) in a commission from the Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings. The poem Coir is another favourite of mine. (4/5)
• Extract from Bringing the Wild Woman Indoors, by Lorna Goodison
And as she spoke you saw yourself in her, the wild woman,
your true sister. And you say, "Thank you for being the mad one,
the wild heart, the crazy woman, the Accompong Nanny warrior."
And that's when you brought her to live inside with you forever.
• Extract from The Woman Speaks to the Man Who has Employed Her Son, by Lorna Goodison
She raised him twice, once as mother
then as father, set no ceiling
on what he could be doctor
earth healer, pilot take wings.
But now he tells her is working
for you, that you value him so much
you give him one whole submachine gun
for him alone.
He says you are like a father to him
she is wondering what kind of father
would give a son hot and exploding
death, when he asks him for bread.
She went downtown and bought three
and one-third yard of black cloth
and a deep crowned and veiled hat
for the day he draw his bloody salary.
• Extract from Garden of the Women Once Fallen, by Lorna Goodison (part I only)
Shame Mi Lady [note: vid of mimosa pudica in action, 1min utu]
Lady, what could you have done so
to make you close in on yourself so?
The lady folds her arms across her chest
The lady droops her head between her breasts.
The lady's eyes will not answer yours
Lady, if I tell you my crime
will you tell me yours?
Mine are legend and all to do with love misplaced
yet I've been replanted in this arboreal place,
now, if I can find favour (me with my bold face)
you bashful you shy you innocent lady
must/bound to find absolution/grace.
Come lady, tie bright ribbon-grass around your waist
Let you and I bloom redemption in this place.
This entry was originally posted at http://spiralsheep.dreamwidth.org/596110.html and has
comments Please comment there using OpenID.