The splendor of poetry derives from its power of perception. Thus, a great poem must transcend the tools of figurative language – it must rediscover the power of human thought, recognition, and memory. A well-formed trope is like a good knife. It is sharp but of limited utility. There are many high quality knives in the English language. Few, however, take much heed of what they cut.
The belief that contemporary poetry is somehow defective in our country is often expressed in this journal, both in its criticism and in its poetry. Literary Laundry does not argue, however, that American poetry has lapsed due to a failure of figurative language or human imagination. What contemporary poetry lacks is direction – intelligent discourse with an eye for discovery.
The poetry in this issue of Literary Laundry presents a dialogue between humanity and its world, a yearning for direction and for purpose. Downstream” explores the mysterious transmutations of self in a moment of catharsis; “Dream, Deferred” presents intellectual vitality as a fundamental human need. “Broken Vows” surveys the inherent omissions in human communication, while “Pleiades” searches for them in nature and in memory.
“5:26AM, Via Montebella” and “Ache” discuss a similar topic from different angles; the former probes the capacity of nature to measure distance and identity, while the latter bemoans the inability of humanity to truly love the natural. “In Praise of Science” and “Sumer Garment” also engage nature in their arguments; the first recalls to us the ultimate futility of scientific striving while the second utilizes the changing seasons to describe humanity’s resilience in the face of constant disruption. Lastly, while “Paper Planes” engages with the importance of memory and dream (two historical staples of the poetic experience) in living a fulfilled life, “On the Stream of the Puit-Noir” advises its reader that fulfillment rests in the constant pursuit of the soul.
Engage these poems with gravity. Each has something direly human to say.