08-11-2024

VI

There is a violence in leaving that doesn’t involve doors.  

Here’s a dedication:

While translating Anne Carson's Short Talk on Defloration, I imagined myself taking part in some exercises involving doors. 

I had a look at Emily Brontë's pursuit of watching (1818–1848) and followed with this conclusion: Why is it that you cry after sex is a question Emily would have not known how to ask.

It is Carson who leads you to believe that you know what she means when she talks about crossing the bridge of sighs.

You read it happened in Venice.

Once crossed by prisoners moving from one prison to another, this passage made of Istrian stone was completed in 1602/03.

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Note that a modification of her original Short Talk from 1987 (published in the Southwest Review by the Southern Methodist University in Texas) can be found in a publication from 2001, which appears now as part of her fictional essay in 29 tangos:

That night we made love “the real way” which we had not yet attempted

although married six months.

Big mystery. No one knew where to put their leg and to this day I’m not sure

we got it right.

He seemed happy. You’re like Venice he said beautifully.

Early next day

I wrote a short talk (“On Defloration”) which he stole and had published

in a small quarterly magazine.

Overall this was a characteristic interaction between us.

Or should I say ideal.

Neither of us had ever seen Venice.