Friday 6 April 2018

Strange Alchemies

(i.m. Rebecca Elson 1960 – 1999. Astronomer and Poet)

 
From science you created lyric
gold, dark matter illuminating
your soul.

When cancer called, you
listened to crazy dividing
cells sing new

universes into being; ate
stars to shine
light onto death.

Your scribbled notes haunt
our minds like coyotes –
leave us awed.




Originally posted in 2007 in response to a challenge at Poetry Thursday is to write a poem to or for a poet. This is my poem in memory of Rebecca Elson. Her wonderful collection of poetry and notes towards unwritten poems, Responsibility to Awe,was published in 2001 by Carcanet. Read more about the poet and her work.

Meanwhile I've just posted another poem over on my Shapeshifting Green blog, which you can read here

29 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks Crafty for your tribute to her. I followed the links and read the information.

Her poems sound like stars singing.

Unknown said...

So many poems and so little time. I'll have to look her up. Beautiful tribute. I'm sure she'd be honored.

shadows and clouds said...

that really is a beautiful poem you wrote here, i particularly like that part "ate stars to shine
light onto death" so delicate and magical and sad but positive. i will definitely look her up! thanks

GreenishLady said...

What a beautiful tribute. Makes me want to seek out her work. Thank you.

Drizel said...

This is heartfelt and really truly beautiful.

Anonymous said...

These lines really got me:
"...ate
stars to shine
light onto death."

Thank you for introducing me to Ms. Elson. Astronomer and poet --- what a magical combination!

Anonymous said...

A moving tribute! This is a great line, "ate
stars to shine
light onto death."

Joyce Ellen Davis said...

A great tribute. Now I am also going to look for her. Thank you for the introduction.

gautami tripathy said...

Very beautiful tribute. I had read her some time back. Felt those were jewels.

writerwoman said...

The part about eating stars is amazing. Love that phrase you created.

rel said...

Juliet,
Beautiful poem, for a favored poetess!
rel

Deb said...

Beautiful poem. I have found a new poet to read, thanks to you. (I love scientist-poets. Do you know Alison Hawthorne Deming?)

PS--I'm not sure your link worked.

Norma said...

I'm not familiar with this poet. Thanks for the introduction.

Your PT link doesn't work, but we can find you through dogged persistence!

Tina said...

This is so beautiful- every word moves fluidly and in reading it, I can feel myself melting into the words. I've never heard of Rebecca Elso, but I'll definitely have to look her up now.

Unknown said...

You were definitely inspired! I love the combination of words and images. I'll have to look her up.

Anonymous said...

This is a great poem. I have never heard of heard of her and will now look out for her work.
Also, thanks for the comment on my blog. It's funny I didn't think anyone would read it so I haven't updated it. I guess I should try.
There is a need to reclaim the term black..but at the end of the day there's still so much structural injustice that i wonder if that would really help anything, you know?

Jessica said...

I love the line breaks in this poem -- being a line break nerd,I watch for these things. Each line break and stanza break adds a new layer of meaning to this poem. Thanks for introducing me to this poet!

Catherine said...

I think everyone has picked out the same line - "ate stars to shine light onto death" - I think "luminous" would be a perfect word to describe your poem.

Michelle said...

Thanks for bringing this poet to our attention. And your poem evokes wonderful imagery.

Fragmentsinsight said...

Heartbreaking yet beautiful tribute. You say a lot with few words. Very good.

Clockworkchris said...

I really liked the diction you used in this poem. I think this was the perfect poet for you to pick from the great poem you produced. Sorry I have been lazy and not checked in on your page in a while but a death in the family has made life life much more stressful.

Regina said...

Oh my goodness, that was beautiful...

polona said...

beautiful tribute. thank you

Mary J. said...

I love the part "ate stars." It is such a beautiful way of describing the hard road of recovery.

iamnasra said...

From science you created lyric
gold, dark matter illuminating
your soul.

When cancer called, you
listened to crazy dividing
cells sing new

universes into being; ate
stars to shine
light onto death.

Your scribbled notes haunt
our minds like coyotes –
leave us awed.

amzing poem - Im touched

Crafty Green Poet said...

Hi there, thanks for all your comments, I hope you all read Rebecca Elson's poetry now!

Anonymous said...

This is a very moving poem. I love the way you break the poem up. It certainly makes me want to read Rebecca Elson. (Also thanks for the comment on my blog)

Anonymous said...

sounds as if you found her quite inspiring. I'll follow your link to learn more about her.

Great image of singing new universes

Marcia (MeeAugraphie) said...

What an awesome tribute in the form of a beautiful poem. Your "ate stars to shine light onto death" is a line I will hold tight inside. I also have to read of her.