Episode 131 Beyond the Sonnet - Sonnet Week Ep. 7

Connor and Jack close out National Poetry Month 2021 with a series of episodes exploring the history and enduring popularity of one of poetry's iconic forms: the sonnet. To finish off a full week of episodes, a look at some contemporary sonnets and ways that poets have added to (and moved beyond)the basic fourteen line form. Nicole Sealey's 29 line "candelabra with heads" Paisley Rekdal's anagrammatical sonnets, Jericho Brown's creation of The Duplex and more are discussed.

candelabra with heads
By: Nicole Sealey

Had I not brought with me my mind
as it has been made, this thing,
this brood of mannequins, cocooned
and mounted on a wooden scaffold,
might be eight infants swaddled and sleeping.
Might be eight fleshy fingers on one hand.
Might be a family tree with eight pictured
frames. Such treaties occur in the brain.

Can you see them hanging? Their shadow
is a crowd stripping the tree of souvenirs.
Skin shrinks and splits. The bodies weep
fat the color of yolk. Can you smell them
burning? Their perfume climbing
as wisteria would a trellis.

as wisteria would a trellis.
burning? Their perfume climbing
fat the color of yolk. Can you smell them
Skin shrinks and splits. The bodies weep
is a crowd stripping the tree of souvenirs.
Can you see them hanging? Their shadow

frames. Such treaties occur in the brain.
Might be a family tree with eight pictured
Might be eight fleshy fingers on one hand.
might be eight infants swaddled and sleeping.
and mounted on a wooden scaffold,
this brood of mannequins, cocooned
as it has been made, this thing,
Had I not brought with me my mind

Who can see this and not see lynchings?