Thursday, January 21, 2010

Taking Inventory: Another Top Shelf Read



Almost eight years ago I was given a set of slim volumes of poetry authored by an innovative poet and performance artist named Saul Williams. And while I love the person who gave them to me, I don’t know that I gave the poems their due consideration at the time. Some of the unorthodox free form may not have registered with me at the time, but it’s been really interesting going back and reading this work again. Williams is very talented and I find myself appreciating his work more and more.

His words speak for themselves and I’m really glad to own this collection called “She” although, there is a division sign between the S and H in SHE (see the cover below). It is definitely worth reading, especially the second time around.  None of the poems have titles, but I think are meant to be read almost like a tiny novel or story. The following are two of my favorites.

i drew her
like a bath
then sat and soaked
watching the bubbles
disappear
as a ring
around the tub
gave us the age
of trees

###

i am a canvas
painted over
whether it be by your hand
or my own

a stroke
of genius
is as debilitating

i now sit
perfectly still
closer to the earth
than i have ever been
our love
the equator

paint me, love

i am a painting
in reverse

my blues
will disappear
as Will
arises

Solstice Will i am

arise, fair love
and face the glorious morn

on this
the shortest day of the year
it has become
too bright
to write

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