I am taken aback by the weight of this extraordinary piece. Lyrically rich, philosophically sharp, and emotionally intricate, there’s something devastating and liberating in the way the poem confronts duality without resolving it. Stunning work.
wow, thank you for these words. A lot went into this larger poetic series (tons of research, a whole separate thesis, living with Sufis, interviewing murshids...) and these poems are such a tiny piece of that, but your words reassure me that some of that work comes through the Shadowsaint. Thank you, love.
he contrast of bones kissing the earth vs tears drowning it, dates devoured vs denied, is so visceral. It says more about spiritual hunger than any doctrinal treatise could.
I am taken aback by the weight of this extraordinary piece. Lyrically rich, philosophically sharp, and emotionally intricate, there’s something devastating and liberating in the way the poem confronts duality without resolving it. Stunning work.
wow, thank you for these words. A lot went into this larger poetic series (tons of research, a whole separate thesis, living with Sufis, interviewing murshids...) and these poems are such a tiny piece of that, but your words reassure me that some of that work comes through the Shadowsaint. Thank you, love.
he contrast of bones kissing the earth vs tears drowning it, dates devoured vs denied, is so visceral. It says more about spiritual hunger than any doctrinal treatise could.
what a beautiful reading of these poems - thank you, Allen!
Incredible piece.. every word falls with weight and importance 😌
thank you so much, Alex. A lot went into these (it was a much bigger series originally) and I’m so glad to hear that it retains some of that gravity
Oh this took me to so many places - the stark comparison, the different paths, the questioning... wonderfully done.
thank you so much, Rajani! I am honored by your close reading and appreciation.
this is exquisite. it begs to be read, and pondered, read again as a spiritual lesson, and studied by seeking souls. so beautiful.
thank you so, so much for these beautiful words - really means a lot to me for this to be read and digested as such.
Just exquisite!
thank you so much!
Masterful craft; your best work yet, reflective, textured, ambivalent. Reads like someone excavating a self they’ve only glimpsed in shadow.
thank you so much, Damien -- beautifully expressed and fully seen
I love this!
Agree with the comments about the wonderful imagery, too.
thank you so much, Oliver!
Beautiful and filled with things to ponder deeply. This stanza:
“Your choice may have been
the more admirable
but which of us knows
the sweetness
the anatomy of the date?”
Amazing! And yes, which of us knows?
which of us knows, indeed....
thank you so much for reading and pondering, Liz.
What fantastic poetry and imagery, samara!
thank you so much, Luis!!