Publisher's Synopsis
The flavor of the poems in "A Black Sheet" is strongly alchemical. Among them are three free translations, a form which I've never tried before, but which I find I enjoy greatly. The three are: 1) one of the "Illuminations" of Rimbaud, 2) A prose-poem reworking of the first part of "The Life and Death of Jason" by William Morris, and 3) forty-four poems based on the alchemist Michael Maier's book "Atalanta Fugiens". I continue to learn to write, both by reading and through dreams, but mainly by doing it. The instability of words is forever exciting to me. They are highly ethereal objects that continually change shape, and are of a different color each time you look at them. It pleases me greatly to know that my poems will not, in the future, like paintings, need restoration, or anything to prevent their decomposition. It also pleases me to know that after I die the meanings of these words will continue to change, both subtly and boldly, meaning that these poems are destined to become something other than what I've meant them to be. I look forward to my eventual return here in a new body so that I can see for myself what they've turned into.
