The Nijinsky Poems by Meg Sparling
In The Nijinsky Poems, Meg Sparling has crafted a sensitive and insightful revisiting of the life of one of the 20th Century's greatest artists. Combining the biographical with the lyrical, Sparling's writing embodies the power and contingency of the dancer. The Nijinsky Poems is a haunting tribute to a delicate and beautiful man, and a nimble, unerring performance of its own.
The artist in light
Nijinsky stands in a room of glass—
the laughter of light around him.
Color is absent here,
but makes its absence known.
(In this room his mind is crazed with color.)
Three chairs line the far wall—
the middle facing opposite the others.
His daughter sits in this chair,
swatting playfully at nothing.
"Papa, a bee, Papa," she shrieks.
Her sound is a fragile surface here.
Silent Nijinsky stands in the light,
clothed in gravity’s love.
Poetry, 19 pp. Click here to download PDF in new window.
Meg Sparling grew up in a small town in northern Michigan. She attended Michigan State University, where she was general editor of Red Cedar Review. She has been writing stories since the first grade; in third grade she plagarized a story about dragons from her teacher, but she promises that everything written since has been completely original. She lives in New York City.Also by Meg Sparling: "On a recent rainy Wednesday"
2 comments:
Dear Meg, Maybe you would be interested in my long poem Sergei de Diaghileff (1929) first published by Turret Books in 1968. It was my first published poem. It came out in my first book and has been reprinted in several anthologies and in my Selected Poems (Anvil Press Poetry - 2000)- available on Amazon. Anyway, I like your Nijinsky poems. And I liked your comments on his wonderful paintings and drawings. If Shiva drew, he would draw like Nijinsky. Best wishes Anthony Howell
Thank you, Anthony. After years away from Nijinsky I am contemplating a longer, prose work, so your comment comes at an opportune time. I will definitely check out your recommendations. Thanks again, Meg
Post a Comment