I Will Not Name It Except to Say by Lee Sharkey

The poems of Sharkey’s new book I Will Not Name It Except to Say are at times esoteric, odd, internal, and political. They’re based in family history from WWII and a deep connection going back further. The poems draw heavily on Jewish religious stories and Eastern European photo-surreal imagery. These poems are distant grand-nieces and nephews perhaps to Chagall’s paintings. They’re equally beautiful. Buy here.

From “Thistle”

. . . Soon, I’ll be the only keeper of the memories that made a family. // I don’t trust myself with that much treasure // but here I am, holding out my arms and smiling. . .

From “Concertina Wire”

. . . Shiny intersecting spirals. Venn diagrams of parallel narratives. Let’s say it’s Fatma who lifts a loop of wire. One by one by one, they belly down, crawl under. A shred of sleeve snags in the dragon’s teeth . . .

From “You Are Not From the Castle, You Are Not From the Village, You Are Nothing”

. . .The dogs of spring are tugging at their leashes // I pet the cat, who wants nothing more of me // I touch the mezuzah and ask the Shekhinah to bless me with her breath of pollen yellow // Let this not be a good day for fear or the fires that destroy villages // This is the day the cosmos made, let us rejoice and