BETH FELDMAN BRANDT
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Investigate Sage

The Sage Project began as a cycle of poems written by Beth using John Gerard's The Herbal: or, General History of Plants (1633) as a point of departure.  From this beautifully illustrated and comprehensive catalogue of plants, Brandt created a "found poem" extracted from The Herbal accompanied by an original poem in response.  These are framed in four sections based on the seasons, elements and life cycle.  With Claire Owen, a Philadelphia painter and book artist, Sage has grown into an artist book, broadside, and exhibition. Her stunning work is pictured below.

A pdf of the process and the 2012 exhibit can be viewed here.

Read poems from Sage

Fire

She steers the sun, its rays her crown, drawn 
to the danger of the steep climb, dawn's 
headlong fall. 
            Reins loose against the fiery chase of day, 
hours rush to meet the evening, star-swirl 
dizzy in the noonday sun. 
Rising too high, veering too close, she sears 
the earth to desert. She is punished for wanting— 
her fire extinguished in flame , 
                                      in the chill air, a trail of light 
across the charred vault of night sky.
Honeysuckle







​rare and attenuated 
heat as red as blood
Remove 
the sharp edges 
the pointed silence 
the questions--
​
if we had met 
sooner 
later 
not at all?

Or if my version of heaven 
matches yours.

Reduce the space 
between our words 
between our lips
​
until we are distilled 
one clear drop.
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  • Home
  • Audio Description Services
  • On the Page
    • RetroLove
    • Solace
    • Sage
  • On the Stage
  • About/Contact