ABSTRACT

'"The mares which bear me as far as my desires might reach ...": a piece of writing from two and a half thousand years ago catches the intent of this work. The author has etched a body of poetry that follows a trajectory not often encountered in the writings of the modern world.'- From the Preface by Bernard Burgoyne this is a stunning and original book that breaks new ground in the field of contemporary literature. Informed by Greek and Shakespearean tragedy, readings of Lacan, Freud and P. G. Wodehouse, its principal themes are maternal desire; the structure of tragic thought; writing itself, and the possibility of finding seemingly impossible pathways through the suffering of lived experience. It is, amongst other things, a love story, a philosophical inquiry, an artwork, a collection of poetry and - a book of jokes. The author writes an expansive, 'everyone welcome', style of epic, one which is proof for the urgent necessity of the poetic voice. Bernard Burgoyne provides the Preface and fresh topological etchings.

chapter |5 pages

In the beginning …

part I|24 pages

Writing

chapter 1|1 pages

ANTIΓONE

chapter 2|2 pages

book

chapter 3|1 pages

thread/pot

chapter 5|1 pages

responsibility

chapter 7|2 pages

stone and story

chapter 9|2 pages

Second INSTAR

part II|21 pages

Lost

chapter 10|4 pages

thread/hospital

chapter 11|1 pages

god, oh god

chapter 12|1 pages

stān stone

chapter 13|4 pages

two women, naked

chapter 14|1 pages

fallen woman

chapter 16|3 pages

Third INSTAR

part III|32 pages

Tragedy

chapter 17|1 pages

thread/down

chapter 18|1 pages

(x, y)

chapter 19|3 pages

trees

chapter 20|3 pages

“ε’íθε µἠ ἔφuς

chapter 21|3 pages

scapegoat

chapter 22|1 pages

etched I

chapter 23|2 pages

ballad of the stupid feet

chapter 24|1 pages

crones

chapter 26|6 pages

Fourth (of these fine) INSTARS

part IV|34 pages

Mother

chapter 27|1 pages

thread

chapter 28|1 pages

donkey

chapter 29|1 pages

things not to speak about i

chapter 30|1 pages

things not to speak about ii

chapter 31|1 pages

things not to speak about iii

chapter 32|1 pages

etched II

chapter 33|2 pages

wager

chapter 34|1 pages

go fly

chapter 35|1 pages

stone and bind and tree

chapter 36|2 pages

old, old women

chapter 37|9 pages

damn well tree

chapter 39|2 pages

Fifth ((sshhhhhh and final)) INSTAR

part V|23 pages

Paths

chapter 40|1 pages

thread

chapter 41|1 pages

the woman and the apple tree in spring

chapter 42|1 pages

dear Bernard

chapter 44|1 pages

father of the grey seas

chapter 45|1 pages

hope

chapter 46|2 pages

two women, naked contd

chapter 47|1 pages

etched III

chapter 48|1 pages

bird

chapter 49|1 pages

fort da

chapter 50|3 pages

body of knowledge