Antigone

(December 25, 2015) Antigone. Poem by Jack Ross. Design by Bronwyn Lloyd. Pania Singles 3. Auckland: Pania Press, 2015.

Every Christmas Bronwyn makes a special edition of one of Jack's poems or stories. This year she picked the poem "Antigone." If you're not familiar with Greek mythology, Antigone was the daughter of Oedipus and Jocasta. The poor woman attempted to secure a respectable burial for her brother and the King punished her by entombing her alive.

The poem references the story obliquely by talking about a visit to a former colonial prison in Tasmania and his experience in one of the tiny cells. You can find it below. It's best to read across the columns - first the left one, then the right.

You can find further details about the project here, at Mosehouse Studio, and there are further bibliographical details at Works & Days.

•

Antigone

Tomb, bridal-chamber, eternal prison in the caverned rock, whither go to find mine own?

– R. C. Jebb

When I woke up in

the melancholy city

everything was the colour of rain        all of the garish

primaries

of the previous evening

obscured by

the pitter-patter

of dread                                          The books I was reading

dissolved into pulp

those volumes of

lapidary thoughts

intangible as fog

as that happiness                              oh so elusive

what’s new

you say

Once in Tasmania

at an old colonial prison

I walked into one of the cells             there was no-one around

so I closed the door

just to feel what it was like

I lasted two seconds

people go mad

they say                                          Imagine a room

a white room

no doors

no chairs

too narrow

to sit down                                      too low

to stand

up

my marriage bed

 *****

•

& here are some illustrations of the finished product:

•