Exploring the multifaceted nature of snow, this book delves into its symbolic meanings and emotional impacts. Through vivid imagery and poetic language, it examines how snow can evoke both tranquility and chaos, reflecting the complexities of human experience. The narrative weaves together personal stories and broader cultural references, inviting readers to contemplate the interplay between nature and emotion. Themes of isolation, beauty, and transformation are intricately explored, making snow a powerful metaphor for life's uncertainties.
Poetry. PORTUGUESE SAILOR BOY is a fragmentary history of the bloodline of the Portuguese explorer, Vasco de Gamma. The bloodline motif plays out in a series of scenes of an unnamed contemporary relation--in symbolic forms like nautical maps and paint-by-numbers frigates. The narrative centers on the wayfaring of his character, which reveals a life of accidental achievement as well as unadvertised follies, and neither ascends nor descends to an end.
Exploring themes of movement and dislocation, these fragmentary poems capture the essence of flight from familiar surroundings to unfamiliar terrains. They embrace the uncanny, engaging with the world at unexpected angles and transcending conventional boundaries of sense and taste. The work reflects a nomadic perspective, suggesting that a discerning ear can uncover deeper meanings within the text, inviting readers to experience the nuances of language and emotion.
Exploring Derrida's perspective, the book delves into ethics as both transcendental and performative, presenting a lively interpretation of his philosophical approach. It examines the implications of these concepts for understanding morality, emphasizing the dynamic interplay between ethical principles and their enactment in real-world contexts. Through engaging analysis, the text invites readers to reconsider traditional notions of ethics and its practical applications in contemporary society.
There is no doubt that all poems included in the poetry collection make it evident that the poet is a very impressive artist. These poems reveal remarkable skill and simplicity of style. Here we find a graceful and harmonious movement of language. The spontaneous and profound emotions are nowhere more exquisitely revealed than in these poems which are, in many respects, quite unique. BIO David Appelbaum is author of Everyday Spirits [SUNY]. His recent works include Portuguese Sailor Boy and Collector of Lapsed Times [both Black Spring]. He resides in New York State.
This appears to be a poem that touches on themes of decay, disease, and the struggle to find meaning and beauty in a world that can be harsh and unforgiving. The first two lines suggest that a rose bush is suffering from blight, a fungal disease that can cause leaves to curl and wither. The "pinholes in veins" could refer to the small punctures that blight can cause on a plant's leaves. The third line mentions "the thing doused white," which could be a reference to a pesticide or other chemical treatment that has been used to try to combat the blight. However, the use of the word "doused" suggests that this treatment may have been excessive or harmful. The fourth line, "'cure worse than the disease, '" is a common expression used to describe situations where a supposed solution to a problem ends up causing more harm than good. The fifth and sixth lines express a sense of helplessness and frustration, as the speaker wonders what they can say or do to make things better. The seventh and eighth lines describe the speaker's struggle with their own creative work, as they find themselves dissatisfied with the words they have written.
The narrative explores the complexities of human emotions through the lens of a unique relationship. Characters navigate their intertwined lives, grappling with love, loss, and the search for identity. The story is rich in symbolism, using the metaphor of "two small drops" to signify moments of connection and vulnerability. As the plot unfolds, readers are invited to reflect on the impact of seemingly small actions and choices, ultimately revealing deeper truths about the human experience.
Exploring the tension between desire and mortality, this book-length poem delves into the transformative power of music and song. Through a blend of raw emotion and subtle sensuality, it seeks to elevate the human experience, challenging the mundane and striving for a deeper, immortal vision. The poet's quest reflects a profound yearning to reclaim life from the brink of obscurity, making it a poignant meditation on love and artistic expression.
Exploring themes of responsibility and initiation, this volume delves into the concept of "initiatory ethics." It reveals a hidden aspect of delay present in traditional teachings and highlights how a deep sensitivity to sacred obligations arises from human experience. This final installment in Appelbaum's trilogy offers profound insights into the "intervening subject," building upon the ideas presented in the previous volumes.
David Appelbaum, a passionate hiker and local geography enthusiast, combines his philosophical insights with his editorial experience as a former editor of Parabola Magazine and current publisher of Codhill Press. His diverse background enriches his perspective on nature and literature.
