Poem: Daphne Gottlieb

The third nominee (see yesterday and yesterday's yesterday) for a Lambda Literary Award for a best collection by a lesbiana poet . . . is Daphne Gottlieb.

Although the poem I selected is short, as in real short, four lines, it does seem to represent rare inventiveness and insight.

I saw one reference to Gottlieb was a "performance poet."  That phrase is limiting and also too strict in terms of codification. Few poets can resist at least a few plays to the audience these days, especially in our Youtube culture. And once a poet is called a performance poet, she is considered pegged. Since Gottlieb has over nine books out she's spent some time off the stage.

"ernie..." could be titled "the Serenity Prayer goes awry" except its real title is cool and wildly informative.

ernie, on the street, overhears lola, who has fallen off the wagon is walking home alone at 2:15 a.m. 

god grant me the heredity the hysterectomy god grant me to

excess to annex to invent the things I cannot 

exchange courage to claim or chain the things I 

clam and the wizard to know the defense.

______________________
Daphne Gottlieb, Homestead Review, Hartnell College


Link to Homestead Review