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[ excerpt ]
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second-hand souls
selected writing
by Nichita Danilov
translated from the Romanian by Sean Cotter
Nichita Danilov places himself in the tradition of
mystics such as Meister Eckhart, St. John of the Cross, and Pseudo-Dionysius. This tradition describes the divine in negative terms: it is "not a part of non-
existence nor is it a part of being," he quotes the Areopagite. This world is unknowable and made
essentially other by its ineffability, and because the divine is ineffable, no poem Danilov writes will be
an adequate expression of its nature. This volume
represents his attempts at such expression. Combining the spiritual heritage of his native Romania and his people, the Lippoven, with a
surrealist poetics, Danilov explores the mystical
relationship between Man and the Deity in writing that is playful, ironic, and language-centered, engaging in games of a metaphysical depth.
In this selection of his poetry (presented bilingually) and prose, Danilov describes a world full of caprice in a voice coming from the darkness
of a purgatory where the divine appears in bizarre images, where all we can do is passively wait for a divine eruption in this world, the nature and timing
of which are impossible to predict.
As much as Balkan religious and ethnic conflict has been present in our minds of late, our understanding has been somewhat superficial. Danilov's writing will be of interest to those who wish a
deeper understanding of the currents in East European spirituality.
[S]tartling images that remind us of the best of the Imagist school where the
moon can become an old farmer "leaning over the fence." |
— RALPH
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The most obvious comparison of Nichita Danilov's poetic style is to that of
Rilke with perhaps a hint of Borges ... a succint and valuable translation of a potentially important
East European poet. |
— The Absinthe Literary Review
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The world for the mystically-minded Danilov is not a natural world,
but it has its fascinations and intimations. |
— Small Press Book Review
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Brief surrealistic meditations on craft and creativity, Danilov's essays begin
calmly only to mount swiftly to hallucinogenic, ecstatic bursts of religion-poetical prayer. |
— Richard Collins, Xavier Review
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These skeptical poems evoke mysticism, surrealism and the metaphysical.
Their greatest strength is how they say so much, so simply, so beautifully. |
— NewPages
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ISBN 9788086264080
156 pp., 14.5 x 20.5 cm
softcover with flaps
smythe sewn
poetry (bilingual) & prose
release date:
January 2004
order directly:
airmail shipping & handling incl.
$14.50
also available from:
Wordery
Bookshops
Bookshop.org
Amazon US
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Central Books
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