A n n e   W a l d m a n :   K e e p i n g   T h e   W o r l d   S a f e   F o r   P o e t r y

N a p a l m   H e a l t h   S p a :   R e p o r t   2 0 1 5 :   S p e c i a l   E d i t i o n

 

 

CECILIA VICUÑA

                                    for Anne Waldman

                                    & María Sabina

 

 

"Chant is heartbeat," she said

 

"to speak of/to/for Everywoman

 

                  trans trans

                                   

                                           lating

 

"I am a wind: on a deep lake"

"I am a tear: the Sun lets fall"

 

                                                              listening listening

 

to the chant that wants to be "spoke/sung"

                                                                          "sprechstimme"

                                                                                                                  she said

until she came to hear

                                                            Sabi

                                                                                la sabia Sabina

to hear her song

the sacred mushroom song

                                                                         I can "use" that

                                                                                                                 she said

                                                                         I can "taste" it

                                                                                                              cause

                                                                        "I am a timeless seeker"

borrowing, adopting, transducing

                                                                                          the water of song

                                                                                          the "water that cleans as I go"

                                                                                                                                                                       Sabi said

 

Who speaks in the speaker?

 

What forest is Wald?

What mushroom saint?

                                                                        "Wisdom is language"

                                                                                                                                   Sabi said

and She, Fast Speaking Woman said:

                                                                                               "Everywoman is a dakini

                                                                                                 a skywalker who changes

                                                                                                 the world"

Energumen, please

                                     "The saint is a woman scorned."