This poem is taken from PN Review 255, Volume 47 Number 1, September - October 2020.
Palinodes in the Voice of My Dead Father
‘A palinode or palinody is an ode in which the writer retracts a view or sentiment expressed in an earlier poem. The first recorded use of a palinode is in a poem by Stesichorus in the 7th century B.C., in which he retracts his earlier statement that the Trojan War was all the fault of Helen.’ (Wikipedia)
Palinode I
Your mom, look
at her, crying
so piteously,
as my body is
wheeled
into the fire.
There she goes,
collapsing
into herself,
like a burning roof.
Hold her up.
Hold her
close, my
Hecuba.
I’m sorry I
ever thought
of her
as Helen.
Palinode III
All the time
the air sacs
in my lungs
...
Palinode I
Your mom, look
at her, crying
so piteously,
as my body is
wheeled
into the fire.
There she goes,
collapsing
into herself,
like a burning roof.
Hold her up.
Hold her
close, my
Hecuba.
I’m sorry I
ever thought
of her
as Helen.
Palinode III
All the time
the air sacs
in my lungs
...
The page you have requested is restricted to subscribers only. Please enter your username and password and click on 'Continue'.
If you have forgotten your username and password, please enter the email address you used when you joined. Your login details will then be emailed to the address specified.
If you are not a subscriber and would like to enjoy the 285 issues containing over 11,500 poems, articles, reports, interviews and reviews, why not subscribe to the website today?
If you have forgotten your username and password, please enter the email address you used when you joined. Your login details will then be emailed to the address specified.
If you are not a subscriber and would like to enjoy the 285 issues containing over 11,500 poems, articles, reports, interviews and reviews, why not subscribe to the website today?
