Ephemeron

In Ephemeron, poems explore the fleeting and transitory nature of life, including themes of insect love songs, boarding school tales, and parenting. The central section, Translations from the Pasiphaë, retells the Greek myth of the Minotaur from the perspective of the mother, highlighting the cycle of violence and power abuse. The poems are frank, honest, and brave, addressing male and female drives and desires.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 128 pages
Publication date: 10 February 2022
Publisher: Vintage Publishing

Ephemeron is a collection of poems that delve into the fleeting and transient aspects of life. Whether it's the fleeting existence of insects in the first section, Insect Love Songs, the abrupt and anguished physical and emotional transformations during secondary school, as depicted in Boarding-School Tales, or the daily shifts in parenting, navigating love, fear, hurt, and healing in Daughter Mother, the poems explore the brevity of life.

The long central section, Translations from the Pasiphaë, brings these themes together in a powerful and unforgettable retelling of the Greek myth of the Minotaur. Viewed from the perspective of the mother of the bull-child, Pasiphaë, the legend of the heroic male slaying the monster in the labyrinth is transformed into a story of ordinary people caught up in an extraordinary cycle of violence, power, and abuse of power. At the heart of this narrative lies Pasiphaë's desperate plea for her son: "They took him away from me/and they killed him in the dark, for years."

These poems fearlessly confront uncomfortable truths, delve deep into the male and female drives and desires, and speak of them in frank and unshrinking ways. They are both beautiful and resolute, showcasing a bravery that is unwavering in the face of vulnerability. Ephemeron invites readers to reflect on the fleeting nature of life and the complexities of human experiences.

Weight: 144g
Dimension: 131 x 196 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781787333710