Customer Reviews

Chisel of Remembrance

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The poet "sets out on the half-thawed/river of common speech." Vera Schwarcz, in Chisel of Remembrance, reminds us that the words we use in our daily lives are the same words the poet uses to usher us into her feast of words. She celebrates words, humble words that cradle us and straightforward words that rouse us to commit to memory history's worst atrocities, to use that memory, that "chisel of remembrance" to "pry open time" and set it free. Ms. Schwarcz uses her broad erudition of foreign cultures--Chinese, Jewish, Hungarian, Romanian--but never loses her poet's vision: The writing woman/is a listening woman,/an endlessly patient woman embroidering tapestries/of light where chaos/reigned before. This is an extraordinary collection of poems that I have read, reread and will continue to explore.

This book of poems brings together the elements of a rich and multilayered life-- the poetic story of a beautiful journey. The journey begins before the poet was born, "among the Jewish dead," in WWII Europe of her grandparents and parents, and winds its way to a timeless place of contemplation "where this world meets the sefirot above." In between, the reader is rewarded with glimpses of Vera Schwartcz's complex present-- her deep commitment to her Jewish identity and religion, her knowledge and interest in Chinese culture and history, her artistic activity as a poet, and her scholarly activity as a historian. Her poems, masterfully and intelligently, weave the disparate trends of her life and interests into a beautiful tapestry.

The book is handsomely produced by Antrim House. Its cover by Rose Sigal Ibsen, another Romanian born artist with interest in Far East art, with its warm colors, sunflowers, and hints of Hebrew and Chinese calligraphy, offers a prelude to the poetry within. The invitation is unmistakable, in Vera's words:

"I work silk and wool, embroider
time. Life is short, art is well armed
for lasting.
....................................
The queen of periwinkle, daisies, trillium and wart
Invites you to sojourn among her colors,"

I love this book and highly recommend it to anyone who loves poetry.