Post by louisa on Nov 22, 2008 1:17:12 GMT 2
Chateauneuf Du Pape, The Pope's Valet Speaks
by Colette Inez from Alive and Taking Names
submitted by Joyce Nower
I chose this poem because it sparkles with energy and caustic wit, not only in the theme - the papal valet, whose life has not been ascetic, named after a wonderful French wine- but in the imagery of individual phrases: "little bubbles in a Vatican air," "the sun to kneel in burgundies," " an impetuous nun" (what does the valet know?), "infallibility" equated with "steak tartare," "love that Miserere/for two voices," "a bottle / of golden syllables," and more. Furthermore, the sounds of the individual phrases swell in the ear: "chausubles ..freshly pressed," "Š eschew/miraculous fish," "the savor of loaves."
I also chose this poem because it reflects an ethos of graceful survival in spite of childhood trauma. In Alive and Taking Names, poet Colette Inez rises above the bitter questions of parentage - her mother placed her in a Belgian orphanage, and for decades refused to acknowledge her existence; her father, a French Catholic priest, simply did not exist for her. Yet Inez survived because of a strong sense of self, sufficient moments of love, a keen intellect, and a passionate will to survive, one key element of which has been a keen wit.
The Pope's Valet Speaks
Your mitre must sit well
as the Duchess of Windsor sits well
on her horse,
correctness counts, the crozier gleams,
your chasubles are freshly pressed.
This day reminds me of Moet et Chandon,
little bubbles in a Vatican air,
the sun to kneel in burgundies.
Non vintage champagne for the Bishop of Lièges,
that Flemish hulk of gutturals.
As you say,
we need our zealots, dear Nuncio.
Stay with your bulls. Do not eschew
miraculous fish, the savor of loaves.
This wine is new-fangled,
an impetuous nun. I must confess
to disheveled dreams.
Infallibility calls for meat, steak tartare,
skewered lambs in a shishkabob
from the Levantine.
I once had a prioress in Tripoli kissing
the tongue of my shoe. this wine absolves me
of my infamy. Ah, love that Miserere
for two voices.
The room spins its Vatican roulette.
La la la. What wine is this? A bottle
of golden syllables. Yes, your flock clamors
for directions:
norths f venison, Kyrie Eleison, easts of veal,
souths of pork, wests of tripe, papem in aspic,
harum, scarum, cake angelorum,
omni vincit Armour bloney.
What's that pounding at our door?
The bishop of Lièges,
asks your holiness to bless
the bilingual gluttons of Belgium.
To buy Alive and Taking Names:
Listing Current as of Oct. 31, 2008
www.alibris.com/search/books/qwork/232772/used/Alive%20and%20Taking%20Names,%20and%20Other%20Poems
Read more about and by the poet:
www.tulane.edu/~wc/arons/inez/inezhelicon9.html
www.tulane.edu/~wc/arons/inez/inezpoems.html