Blindsight

Rosmarie Waldrop

"Rosmarie Waldrop adopts a term - "blindsight"--Used by the neuroscientist Antonio R. Damasio to describe a condition in which a person actually sees more than he or she is consciously aware." "The collection - is divided into four thematic sections. The first, "Holderlin Hybrids," resonates against the German poet's twisted syntax, while using rhythmic punctuation in counterpoint to sense. "As Were'" says Waldrop, began with looking at the secondary occupations of artists - for example, Mallarme teaching English, Montaigne serving as mayor of Bordeaux - but this soon gave way to playing more generally with particular aspects of historical figures." The title section, Blindsight," is most consistent in its use of collage, juxtaposing words and images to jolting, epiphanic effect. "Cornell Boxes," in contrast, has a formal unity, inspired by the constructions of Joseph Cornell, each...