Intrinsic Night: poetry collection combines science with folklore
Stefanie Maclin
Issue date: 10/22/09 Section: Arts & Entertainment
The new poetry collection, Intrinsic Night, by Joshua Gage and J.E. Stanley, is a commentary on its format. With each poem written as a cinquain, a highly stylized form of poetry similar to a haiku.
The first line has two syllables, the second four, the third six, the fourth eight, while the fifth circles around again to two. And mimicking the circular style of the cinquain, every poem extends from the poem before it, thus creating a full and unified story.
Even the title of the collection itself comments on the story it unfolds. Intrinsic Night is a play on the words "intrinsic light"---random gray lights one might see in total darkness, which results from random retinal events reflected by the optic nerve. The poems also are much like "random retinal events:" balanced, surprising, and delightful.
Part science, part science-fiction, heavy on the folklore, the unexpected, and the odd shapes, findings, and beauty of everyday life, Intrinsic Night fits into no clear genre. But it also doesn't need to. Its unexpectedness defines the collection's true character.
The poems build into climax and end. Poems such as "B'Alam," "Amphisbaena," and "Vertigo," present the image of a beast in the shadows. By the second, the beast has seen us, and is not only out of shadows, but stalking us as his prey.
Finally, in "Vertigo," we're up against a cliff, and must decide whether we jump or face the beast. Either way, perhaps, we're doomed, as we have not yet sprouted wings.
Divided into six chapters, or themes, with titles such as "Foreign Shores," "Songs From the Witch's Garden," "Memento Mori," "The Waters of Eden," "Interludes and Reflections," and "Nocturnes," each poem within the section reflects on its title.
The folkloric elements are heavier in "The Witch's Garden," while "The Waters of Eden" is folkloric, but in a different way. The former takes from fantasy and fairy tales, the latter takes from religious text.
Religion is a strong theme throughout the collection. It is in this section in which I find my favorite set of poems, a series entitled "Becoming Adam:"
The first line has two syllables, the second four, the third six, the fourth eight, while the fifth circles around again to two. And mimicking the circular style of the cinquain, every poem extends from the poem before it, thus creating a full and unified story.
Even the title of the collection itself comments on the story it unfolds. Intrinsic Night is a play on the words "intrinsic light"---random gray lights one might see in total darkness, which results from random retinal events reflected by the optic nerve. The poems also are much like "random retinal events:" balanced, surprising, and delightful.
Part science, part science-fiction, heavy on the folklore, the unexpected, and the odd shapes, findings, and beauty of everyday life, Intrinsic Night fits into no clear genre. But it also doesn't need to. Its unexpectedness defines the collection's true character.
The poems build into climax and end. Poems such as "B'Alam," "Amphisbaena," and "Vertigo," present the image of a beast in the shadows. By the second, the beast has seen us, and is not only out of shadows, but stalking us as his prey.
Finally, in "Vertigo," we're up against a cliff, and must decide whether we jump or face the beast. Either way, perhaps, we're doomed, as we have not yet sprouted wings.
Divided into six chapters, or themes, with titles such as "Foreign Shores," "Songs From the Witch's Garden," "Memento Mori," "The Waters of Eden," "Interludes and Reflections," and "Nocturnes," each poem within the section reflects on its title.
The folkloric elements are heavier in "The Witch's Garden," while "The Waters of Eden" is folkloric, but in a different way. The former takes from fantasy and fairy tales, the latter takes from religious text.
Religion is a strong theme throughout the collection. It is in this section in which I find my favorite set of poems, a series entitled "Becoming Adam:"
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 5
J.E. Stanley
posted 10/23/09 @ 11:20 PM EST
Ms. Maclin,
Thank you for the insightful review.
By the way, Intrinsic Night will be made available in print from Sam's Dot Publishing in early November. (Continued…)
Joshua Gage
posted 10/25/09 @ 11:00 PM EST
Thank you so much for the wonderful review! We really appreciate it.
As J. E. pointed out, the book will soon be in print. Interested readers can pre-order a copy here:
http://www. (Continued…)
Tom Yuhas
posted 10/30/09 @ 11:30 AM EST
I find the emotional impact of J.E. Stanley's writing to be on par with Mark Twain's and Edgar Allen Poe's. Stanley's body of work is deep, clever, and dynamically graceful: downright entertaining to read. (Continued…)
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posted 11/24/09 @ 11:44 PM EST
I like this review. It is well-written.
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posted 11/28/09 @ 1:19 AM EST
It is a very interesting article!
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