RAVENNA DIAGRAM READING GUIDE #9
CLOUD-GIRDLE (p. 11)
This poem was first published in the journal West Branch.
“El Anatsui” : prominent Ghanaian sculptor, born 1944
“Anansi” : West African folktale character with Trickster qualities; often takes form of spider
“weaves diaphanous / Byzantium veils” : some of El Anatsui’s works are large wall hangings that shimmer with luminous colors, produced by threads, thin wires, bits of scrap metal and other materials
“Something greater than fin-de-siecle Vienna...” : shimmering gold of wall-hangings calls to mind “Golden Phase” of Viennese artist Gustav Klimt. Comparison framed in terms echoing Gospel text contrasting Jesus with other kings and prophets
“sinuous, sooth- // siring Solomon” : King Solomon, credited for wisdom. Bible claims he authored thousands of poems. The serpentine phrasing foreshadows allusions to Hart Crane in following stanzas
“Makossa, Ebeano, Dark Sailor...” : evocative names of African beers whose bottle caps adorn the wall-hangings
“forlorn cells of Africa” : see Crane’s poem “Black Tambourine”
“amiable fellowship... diamond cobra” : fellowship of people of good will is source of the culminating “diamond cobra” (“wise as serpents”) of both human solidarity and beautiful art works
“Solomon in all his glory...” : Jesus’ assertion that the beauty of wildflowers is greater than that of Solomon. Glories of art returned to their source in nature and the earth
“field lilies, Flanders / epitaphs” : and the earth is also a grave. Here motif of World War I first appears in R.D.
“Grandfather’s / brass shell, after St. Mihiel” : poet’s grandfather, Edward S. Gould, served as artillery captain in the AE.F.
“Copper wire, / steel helmets” : war contrasted to art, and El Anatsui’s use of these metals
“greater mettle” : pun on metal. Creative art in a struggle with violence
