New Theatre

Susan Steudel

• Publisher: Coach House Books
• Year: 2012
• ISBN:
  9781770563070
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Canadian Poetry
• Index: Literature

New Theatre represents a lively foray into spaces geographical and utopian that investigate the process of meaning. Coolly cerebral poems about Vladimir Ilyich Lenin's later life muse on power and identity, while an intimate autobiographical long poem counterpoints several quieter, equally surprising pieces that spike and bloom.

Autumn.
The sky streaked with silk parachutes
or by tears.
A sparkling epidemic.

I think if the world truly tore in half it would seep blue.

Susan Steudel is the recipient of several awards for her poetry, including a Vancouver Mayor's Arts Award for emerging artist. New Theatre is her first book.

NEW
THEATRE

Night. Drier than bone, an hypnotic windmill.

Morning. Shears silver and heavy in the hands.

Noon. A grumble, a black currant.

Afternoon. Eleven years after the child is born.

Tea. The stain in the iris.

Evening. River ice clinking into water.

The hour. Catkins erupt silkily from buds.

Bath. One end of a skipping rope lowered into a birdhouse.

Tea. A city of channels.

Evening. The fact of a studio in Amsterdam where photographs are hung.

The hour. Description of night in another city.

Night. Two bricks on ice.

Morning. A gold jacket.

Noon. A book given; a soft black cover with silver lettering.

Afternoon. Sour walnuts.

Tea. A bridge spanning a river where fish spawn.

Evening. Recorded movements of mule deer.

The hour. Graphite on paper, a blunt glide.

Bath. Giant, silent elk.

NEW LIFE

The dead give way —

want to curl against you like a new life,

want to carry

the bowl with you and me in it.

A penny hidden in a teacup,

teacup turned upside down.

Where the lake was once. Evaporated.

A flame cups into wax

new phased

(faced).

MANIFESTO

The spirits must write.

Paper, a break in cloud.

At the start there was a fire.

Ink caked, disintegrated.

Feathered ash.

It is first heard through a cup pressed to a wall.

Your cup.

Maybe I am imagining a different country

or non-action.

A lie pulls a scarf from my mouth.

It has never been proven that such a world exists.

CITY

The city is a folk tune.

The city, mirrored in night sky.

Listening to the revolutionary poems.

The old venue creaks under our feet.

Reality a roofless house.

A small dog wanders into the poem,

slinks out.

Some dogma makes out with itself.

I can navigate this.

I don’t know you but it doesn’t matter.

A MODERN PAINTING

I wake in darkness

thinking of an Edward Hopper documentary

narrated by Steve Martin.

I see in detail

a corner of theatres and taxis,

an orderly photographer’s studio,

and invent motives

for the noncommittal postures.

Facades,

muddiness of concrete.

A simple dress.

I wake beneath dark lamps,

my window fractions into deeper darkness.

A flooded road,

faces of the brown deer and limping buck.

From an antler

grass trails by the roots.

EARLY CENTURY

‘Within each sense an example of the word’s use in context is given to pin-point the precise meaning that is required… We would like to thank Gloria Wren and Catherine Wren for their assistance in compiling parts of the text and also Commander F. Val Jones, who, with his late wife, made many helpful suggestions for revising the text.’

– The Penguin Concise Thesaurus, 2002

New Theatre

A new theatre opened last night. The theme of the program. Theoretical mathematics. He offered therapy for her ailment. By the door or thereabouts. The university published her thesis. Thick walls. The paint had thickened. The thickness of the paper. A thin strip.What is that thing? I think things will improve soon. Sought to quench his thirst. He was thirsty after the journey. Pricked herself on a thorn. The plant’s thorny stem. He is very thorough in his work. The thoroughfare was blocked by an accident. Search the room thoroughly. He was happy though he lost. She kept her thoughts to herself. Cotton threads. A threadbare jacket. He made several dark threats. He threatened his employment. She shall not cross the threshold of my home. It gives me a thrill to be here.

Black Dye

Immerse the skirt in black dye. Baptized by immersion in a tank of water. Complete immersion in his hobby. The teenage girl’s immodest behaviour. The children believed Superman was immortal. Millions long for immortality. Despite their efforts the car was immovable. Tests showed he had an immunity to the disease. He dressed up as an imp. All passengers were killed on impact. They had great news to impart.Waiting with impatience. Impatient to start the race. The senate impeached the president. Proceed without impediment. The fog closed in like an impenetrable blanket.

Pink the Canvas

Noted for his philanthropy. Wrote several philosophical works. A degree in philosophy. A phlegmatic character. A photographic record. Study the author’s phraseology. Physical sensations. Take your pick. Pick off the sentries one by one. Pick off the buds. Pick out a dress. Pickets prevented lorries entering the plant. Picket the goat to a stake. A family picnic. Cheese and pickle...

Table of contents

• Table of Contents
• Bulbs1
• Title page
• Copyright
• Dedications
• Epigraph
• Sound List 1
• Sound List 2
• NEW THEATRE
• BIRCH
• SCENES
• NOTES FORWARD
• End Matter