Celan, 1970
From frame to door,
the obvious defers, denying
entry as if
an eye could reclaim
or separate
the fallen tear
and the river’s skin,
or return
those words to
thought, water to
stone, intent
to cold
reason,
now to before.
He stepped into release.
One of the most influential (and difficult) European poets of the 20th century, Paul Celan survived the horror of World War II but never escaped its shadow. A brief biography may be found here.
O at the Edges 
He killed himself, did he not? I only know and have a single one of his pieces: Death Fugue. Almost too difficult to read at all.
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Yes, I believe he drowned himself in the Seine. His work fascinates me.
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One can feel his agony in what he wrote. His poems are filled with hidden mysteries and pain … Felt sorry for that guy.
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His was a painful life. I celebrate his genius.
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Yes, some genius has the strenght come from their pain.
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Celan’s *Todesfuge* is one of my favorite all time poems — harrowing, powerful, it is the only piece of literature that even comes close to capturing the absolute madness of the Holocaust. Thank you for remembering this tragic genius.
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It’s one of those poems that grabbed me and never let go. I can’t claim to understand much of what he wrote, but his words provoke strong feelings.
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Celan has been my poetic companion this past year. Nice piece.
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Thank you. He seems to lurk in my subconscious. 🙂
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I had not heard of his story or his work. I am curious now but also hesitant as his work sounds so dark and yet so well done as to penetrate deeply.
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Dark but luminous, intense, puzzling, dense, difficult and rewarding.
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I especially love your use of line and stanza breaks in this poem. So beautifully effective.
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Thanks, Joanne.
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“separate
the fallen tear
and the river’s skin,”
Very nice.
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Thank you, Scott. Much appreciated.
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I love this “class” of your work, Bob, though such a clunky descriptor is inadequate. But I appreciate how you educate readers like me, and illuminate the work of these other poets while at the same time paying eloquent tribute with your own poetry.
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Thanks, Cate. These just pop out on occasion.
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Celan is one of my favorite poets. I enjoy the imagery in this poem.
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I learned from reading Celan that I needn’t worry about the poem’s meaning – the resonance, the emotional response – was equally, if not more valid to my appreciation of the piece.
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Beautifully done is most likely an inept statement. But to say more requires a stirring of emotions.. deep,this inspires. Thank you for this,a gift,some need reminding.
It is from each nerve ending to create..are we to worry about each meaning too?
Thank you again.
Peace and love
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Thanks very much. I concern myself with the details, with individual words and their meanings and connotations, leaving sufficient space, I hope, for readers to find their own meanings.
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Perfectly. 🙂
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