Original poem reprinted online here: "Deadbeat's Recipe for Lamb" by Jay Baron Nicorvo Originally read: December 22, 2012 More information about the Poet: Jay Baron Nicorvo "This poem works by subtext -- what's the subtext -- I don't know, a formulaic idea of a deadbeat deconstructed through a recipe." So after reading this again, the shifts in tone on the first read is still surprising to me. I think it's the whole end-stopped line where I'm forced to stop and think of every image in its own personal context. The first half of the poem has violent action (imagery): "cleave limb from limb. / Hack as if at air. / Always cut to the quick." This is just a sample. There's is violence, but there's a subtext of anger -- uncontrolled unknowing anger then the shift. "soft as seaglass from the sea's forge, / strain in weak like", or "Hear the letting-go of cartilage." Still somewhat violent, but the language ...
Formerly the RetailMFA, This is the Poetry Blog of Darrell Dela Cruz