Today's poem
One of my curiosities is mysticism. So I am lucky to find the poem ‘Dance Mania’ by Jonathan Aaron on my bookshelf. The free verse has a clarified narrative structure: a series of religious anecdotes in chronological order and famous stories following the achievements of the German physician and alchemist Paracelsus. I enjoy the former part describing apocryphal tales in 1027, 1227, and 1278 with wit (especially, the first tale in 1027 is funny). The latter part mainly relates to Paracelsus. I am quietly inspired by the conclusion starting from the line “Think of the strange, magnetic sleep” as a turn, conveying poetic syntax. Even if Paracelsus’ work might include an uncertain, dubious part, everything is connected as one showing human history.
The dance mania as the title is a clue for reading the poem. I read it and imagine both whirling dervish and dance with Buddhist chants of Jishū (時宗). Beyond eras and religions, the conclusion leads me to a sort of a universal world. I love Paracelsus!