One of the true gifts of this Substack project is that I get to experience new art, encounter new viewpoints and learn new things. For example it has only when todays writer James Maynard (
) joined our collective that I learned what a crown of sonnets is.(A crown of sonnets is, as far as I understand it, a sequence of sonnets addressed to a single person or that revolves around a certain set theme.)
Prior to this encounter, I must admit that I could not recall the last time I had truly taken the time to stop and fully take in a work of poetry with the attention and stillness that such work demands. But since discovering James’ work I now do this weekly, with every new poem he posts.
Today James has generously offered us his latest addition to the crown, the penultimate part of this 14 part work. It functions as a self contained piece but I would recommend that readers follow the link below to to explore this work from the very beginning. You attention will be amply rewarded if you do so.
And of course subscribe to
while you are over there.Let’s the good guise, somma ship of virtu sink,
And this that was. I bought a house befuddled,
A spouse I muddled, rising in the ranks ( adored
( in bored rooms ) and pitched to C-swells their
Manahatta brews. Behind empire ’twas I
Decubitus grew, a stately loaf, sufficed,
The piece of tinning a fellow minderbinder wrapt.
‘Ahltheese explonations! Ille git der checkinshit.’
No, no! Don’t do me like — before you a happy man
In my Prime, what was yesteryear is bound for,
Dontchaknow — some dusty content store.
‘Justa ring der belle.’ Please to complete, my concierge,
These reservations, the mask between my coins.
Certain am I. An appearance. Divine.
🤌