vii: StAnza Presents…
J. L. Williams
blossom atlas
she painted each alternative life on her face in the shape of the petal of a different flower it was a strange illusion, this petal face, which meant that no one could recognise her all they saw was the iris, the orchid, the jacaranda, the jasmine, the mimosa she knew each life because she occupied them in dreams and in the night she was dinosaur, queen, refugee, butler, knife, ostrich, mountain in the morning she was the lapse of water in mirrors she lost herself eventually in a garden where all knowledge was rescinded and what came instead was the perfume of flowers emanating from her in all directions
Expanding dialogue through poetry across languages, perspectives, and cultures and in multimodal and cross-form work including explorations in visual art, music, dance, opera and theatre, J.L. Williams’ books include Condition of Fire, Locust and Marlin and After Economy (all published by Shearsman Books).
StAnza brings poetry to audiences and enables encounters with poetry through events and projects in Scotland and beyond, especially their annual spring festival in St Andrews. www.stanzapoetry.org Facebook: stanzapoetry Instagram: @stanzapoetry
