La Main et autres poà ̈mes by Jean Métellus

I camebacktotheSouthforgood. / And lostyouin mywake / for youdetested howI'd madeyouup whenitwas cold."Theleitmotif of this central theme manifests itself in thelastsegment ofthevolume, consisting ofhertranslation ofa poem titled"I am listening to Istanbul" (Istanbul'u Dinliyorum) byTurkish poet OrhanVeli Kanik,in which thepoethearsrather thansees his beloved city. Nevertheless, one wishes the poet'sconsciousness werenotthat bindingly immersed in herquotidianevents , butrather hadmanaged togleanfrom those autobiographical experiences some wider,transpersonal thematic concerns - makinguse of thepowerofpoetry to abstract and thusunify. Hopefully, sucha capacity, alongwitha betterhonedskill atrhyming (inthose rare moments whenfreeverseis abandoned ),willcome - as itdoestoall striving poets - with time. Christina Dokou University ofAthens, Greece Jean Métellus. La Main et autres poèmes. Paris.Janus.2010. 120 pages. €15. ISBN 978-2-912668-50-9 Thehandis a simplelimbuntilit getshurt.Suffering and recovery takeit through a rollercoasterof sensations, emotions, andthoughts. In La Main et autrespoèmes, a neurologist narrates the phenomenology of its pain,a poet singsthe elation ofitshealing, anda linguist devotes hisclinical attention tothe hand and fingers. JeanMétellus's three personae resonate inunison in this heroic portrait inwhich thepersonalized ,cognizant, feeling hand becomesthelocusofmemory, the matrix of being,and a founding myth in whichresidetheuniverse and the entirehumanexperience (seeWLT, July 2009, 38). La Main et autrespoèmesstarts withtwolongpartsdescribing the dramatic tribulations ofthesufferingand recovering hand.The first forty-seven pagesareentitled "The Painful Hand,"and thenextfortyfive ,"Respite."The muchshorter third andfourth parts, entitled "The Hand"and"TheFingers"twoand six pages, respectively - act as a coda,a reflection on and definition ofthehand'smany rolesthroughout history. Inviewofthis tightly woven structure, the subtitle"and other poems" seems superfluous unless thepoet meantto leave his work open to yetmorevariations. This "openness" ofthevolumeisechoed in theseamlesstransition between poemsin thefirst two units:they are separatedby no othervisible signbuta newpage.Moreopenness is visiblewithin each poemin the smoothglidingof one imageinto thenext. Inthispalimpsest ofthehand's tribulations, physicalillnessparallels spiritual torment. The incantations ofpaindevelopintoan ample symphony, its complex rhythms chronicling thepulsing oftheblood and thememory ofpastmistakes. Powerlessnessspreads fromthe handtothebody,from thesingular to thecosmic.Painis punishment, forcedidleness,"oily,slippery, or frigid, vicious, viscous, slimy" evil. It is a lessonin patience, teaching us to "saygoodbyeto one's shadowypast "andtoaccept itsscars.In theillness's dominant phase,respite is confined whilepain is infinite. Butrespite comes,first as a fragile "in-between," the bearerof good tidings. Itgrowsstronger, "majestically " soothingand healing,and singing "theindefatigable romance of happiness."Respiteis "walkingpoetry ," a celebration thatfrees "suffering words,"theoutstretched handofloveandofgreat deeds.Itis clarity ofmind, adversity overcome, a "tutelary god,"a savior. Thereturn to healthis a "brilliant lifesynthesis ,purity," freedom from mistakes. Respitebecomesinvincible in its serenity, triumphant modesty, and discretion. La Main et autrespoèmesis an epic struggle of good versusevil where suffering, notsin,isthemajor culprit. ItisthePromethean story of themaleheroichand,thatofwriters , rulers, andheroes, tormented by fateful suffering rendered in vivid images, conflicted results, dramatic actions, and acutefeelings. In the end a miracleoccursand healing chasesfearaway,erasesmistakes, renews energy, andmakes bodyand soulwholeagain.Oncedistorted by themonstrous, hallucinatory nightmareof pain, the fivesensesare nowengagedina jubilant paeanof timeless victory. Thislessonofhope, however, travels through theheightened awarenessof humanfrailty. Written before thedevastating 2009 Haitian earthquake, LaMainetautres poèmes couldhavebeeninspired toa greattellurian poetbythecompass ofhispremonitory intelligence. Alice-Catherine Carls University ofTennessee, Martin Juri Talvet.Isegi vihmal on hing.Tartu, Estonia. Tartu UniversityPress. 2010. 138 pages. E4. isbn 978-9949-19-549-7 In his new doublecollection, Isegi vihmal on hing(Even therainhas a soul),Jiiri Talvethas presented a dual authorial persona.As if it knowsTalvettheauthorfrom his previous collections, thelyrical self ofthefirst half speaksina soft, calm 721WorldLiterature Today

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