Poem Reading: "Dithyrams" by Elsa Cross

I think of this interview by translator, Anamaría Crowe Serrano, in Numero Cinco, speaking on Cross’s poetics: What struck me about Elsa during our conversation in London was that her poetry reflected her personality: gentle, contemplative, self-assured. It seemed that the mysteries and uncertainties inherent in the world around us, which philosophy constantly probes, rather than cause angst, in some paradoxical way provide a source of strength for this poet. I got a sense that she accepts that not everything can be known, and there’s comfort in that place of acceptance. The idea of immersing myself for several months in Elsa’s poetic world and worming my way through her raw material was very appealing. As I’ve said, I had already translated some of the first section of Beyond the Sea, so I was familiar with Elsa’s style as well as the setting for the poems. Her collections are often written against the backdrop of a particular locale which works as an anchor for her thoughts. In Beyond the Sea, we find ourselves in Greece. The sound of waves, cicadas in the afternoon heat, plants stirring in the breeze, wings flapping, ancient ruins, are a constant accompaniment, like a leitmotif, to the philosophical thoughts and questions posed in the poems. Thanks for reading Riantly, or with Laughter! This post is public so feel free to share it. You can find Beyond the Sea out of Shearsman Books here. Riantly, or with Laughter is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Riantly, or with Laughter at riantly.substack.com/subscribe