Blackbird Archive“I”
Gerald Stern's introductory note on the genesis of his long poem 'I,' inspired by an abandoned Manhattan synagogue.
The opening section of Gerald Stern's long poem 'I,' describing an abandoned synagogue-turned-house-of-prayer on a New York corner.
Poetry“I”A section of Gerald Stern's long poem 'I,' describing the abandoned synagogue building on a New York corner.
Poetry“I”A section of 'I,' describing the synagogue's plain facade and an unspoken, transformative insight.
Poetry“I”A section of 'I,' moving between sudden joy, the East River, and meditations on death and the sea.
Poetry“I”A section of 'I,' reflecting on the synagogue's single flag and its modest dimensions as a house meant for every nation.
Poetry“I”A section of 'I,' cataloging bureaucratic permit notices on the doomed synagogue as demolition nears.
Poetry“I”A section of 'I,' shifting to a diner where surreal, ritualistic imagery of blood and flesh evokes memory of the speaker's mother.
Poetry“I”A section of 'I,' escalating into a surreal outburst of rage and spilled blood at the diner counter.
Poetry“I”A section of 'I,' a defiant, gender-bending scream of protest and labor pains addressed to a waitress.
Poetry“I”A section of 'I,' surreally merging Holocaust-referencing jokes, bodily torture, and walrus imagery.
Poetry“I”A section of 'I,' questioning what remains to be done or said, invoking Zen, Wittgenstein, and Erich Fromm.
Poetry“I”A repeated section of 'I,' merging Holocaust-referencing jokes with surreal bodily torture imagery.