Poetry & Verse

Someone asked me to create a Latin version of the Nicene Creed in 2021. At first, the client and I had a good conversation. But as time went on, I realized that it was not easy to do—especially the capital “C.” I asked the client if we could increase the fee, but she accused me of cheating because, according to her, I did not follow through on our original agreement. I received many harsh words from her, and in the end, she decided not to buy the piece from me.

In 2024, I posted it in my Facebook group and told everyone the full story behind it. Eventually, I was able to sell it for the price I truly wanted.

*This poem was originally published in The New Yorker

(eagle-eyed viewers will note that the photo is aligned with the lines of text rather than the actual horizontals and verticals of the page, which I am still not good at following)

Poem published 2014 in anthology Tools of the Trade: Poems for new doctors, by publisher Scottish Poetry Library. A copy was given, three years running, to all graduating doctors.

edit: Argh. Title should be “Symbolum Nicaenum.” Blame autocorrect.

More practice on Roman Capitals. Osmiroid 65 with italic medium straight nib.

Pen: pilot parallel pen 3.8 mm
Ink: Diamine zeugma

From her book Here, translated by translated by Clare Cavanagh and Stanisław Barańczak

This poem made me laugh initially, as do a lot of Szymborska’s poems, but then it felt sobering, chilling. In giving this one tame example and not any others, she forces the reader to consider what other examples of this phenomenon might exist in the world now— and in the world’s long and violent history.

Interesting to consider Violence as its own force. With fingers, with personality, with humor.

Interesting to borrow the language of an argumentative essay (with this example, demonstrates…) for a poem.

far too often i’ve let the possibility of sapphic love or encounters slip through my hands.

😭 Just came across this as I pack up to move. The pandemic really sucked.