herself as an "apicorous" (heretic), the fifth son, riffing on the classic Haggadic image. One would be hard pressed to agree with poet's self-description as a heretic, however, based on the second poem, which interacts closely with Judaism's essence--the multiplicity of meanings derived through interaction with tradition, a blessing that can sometimes turn into a curse.from Forward: The Arty Semite: National Poetry Month: The Fifth Son
~~~~~~~~~~~
But in the title poem of David Caplan's recent collection, "In the World He Created According to His Will," Caplan manages to turn the form inside out, while still creating a deeply spiritual meditation on nature, human relationships, and God. Here, instead of perceiving God through nature, the opposite is the case--the beauty of a natural scene is imbued with a spiritual aura thanks to the prayer uttered by the speaker's partner.from Forward: The Arty Semite: National Poetry Month: 'In the World He Created According to His Will'
~~~~~~~~~~~
Today's poem in honor of National Poetry Month is "Jewish Spring" by Yermiyahu Taub, which appears in his recent collection, "Uncle Feygele." While the subject is a seemingly appropriate choice for Passover--also known as "Chag Ha'Aviv," or the "Holiday of Spring"--the poem questions not only the contemporary state of nature appreciation, but the fate of the nature poem itself in a society increasingly distant from the natural world.from Forward: The Arty Semite: National Poetry Month: 'Jewish Spring'
~~~~~~~~~~~
A regular contributor to Jewish Currents magazine (where these poems first appeared), Naamat Women, Alimentum Journal, and about a dozen other publications, Esther Cohen challenges the notion of canonized prayer and invents prayers of her own. The second poem we're featuring today is such a prayer--a free-flowing inspired and magnanimous festive rant. Enjoy!The Unhaggadh
A Prayer for Egypt
from Forward: The Arty Semite: National Poetry Month: The Unhagaddah
~~~~~~~~~~~
No comments :
Post a Comment