Hanging On Our Own Bones

Judy Grahn

• Publisher: Arktoi Books
• Year: 2017
• Print ISBN:
  9780965013482
• eBook ISBN:
  9780989036146
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: American Poetry
• Index: Literature

Through these seven narrative poems, Grahn weaves real-life conditions with goddess mythology to construct modern interpretations of lamentation in nine parts. Song and poem lamentations have a widespread history from all over the globe and carry a wealth of forms and a few requirements—they must read well out loud, they must address current pressing issues, and they must make every attempt to be truthful. Here Grahn's steadfast and rhythmic verse directs our eyes to crucial yet often buried tribulations of our times by critiquing white supremacy, honoring battered women, exalting the powers of menstruation, conflating all labor with birth imagery, and revealing lateral hostilities among potential allies—all in order to arouse a meaningful social critique.

CROSSING (2016)

“Crossing” will be part of The Queen of Cups, my third book-length poem tracing Helen of Troy back in time to goddess Inanna of Sumer, and forward in time to Helena of the Gnostic writings. Helena’s mythological journey includes status as both a creation goddess, and an embodied human, who during the time of the life of Jesus was a prostitute in a brothel at Tyre, from which she was rescued by the magician Simon Magus. Whether in reality or story, Mary Magdalen may have known her. The two of them, and two additional goddess voices, Ma, and Whirling, participate in this polyvocal poem. “Oracle,” a diviner who sees into both past and future, serves as moderator for the story-telling these mythic characters share, sitting around a pond, at the “conference” called for them by “the Queen of Cups.”

ONE

Oracle:

Oracle here, water diviner

transmitting for the Queen of Cups,

who is present in the form of a pond

and who has asked four prominent deities

to a three day conference.

They have gathered around her dark bright water

to share their stories.

Tonight they speak to us

on the subject of transformation,

at which they are all experienced.

Before we get to them,

first I’d like

to tell you a bit about my own transits in my

day job as midwife or boatman crossing

others through the tunnel of life.

Example one, imagine a boatload of teenagers

each needing initiation, and me rowing them

across the hazardous passage.

They are giggling, pushing and leaning on each other

no idea where the other side is,

no notion who of them will grow all the way up or old

who will crash against a wall of cease, whose disease

will turn into a good luck charm,

who will find love or not

even try, who will tie the ropes of connection

(making every passage possible).

For now I row them, give them good will,

my good strong arms, as much attention

as I can.

Example two, Tuesdays and Thursdays I serve

a different population (of whom I have grown fond)

though nevertheless am rowing

on the same long pond:

One gives up knitting

another gives away his money

a third takes up biting and spitting

Sinking alone, or buoyed by daughters

every week I row them further

across silent waters

Night and day change places

mysterious as existence

names dissolve, then faces

Identity slides off like clothing

time eats itself to nothing

some forget where they are going

Some fall off balance

others never lose their bearings

act as group compass

Who will be which, ever

unpredictable as weather—

mysterious as existence.

And now to the goddesses, each with a moment

in her life of complete transformation.

We begin with an important weekend for Magdalen

(visionary of the Christians).

TWO

Magda:

But if you’re going to go

dying on your tree

don’t forget to come

back to me, give me this

Send me a clou...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Acknowledgments
• Contents
• Introduction: Contemporary Lamentations in Nine Parts
• A Woman Is Talking to Death (1973)
• Helen you always were / the factory (1981)
• Descent to the Roses of a Family (1985)
• Amazon Rising from the Dust (1986)
• women are tired of the ways men bleed (2003)
• Mental (2005)
• Crossing (2016)
• Biographical Note