【The Hitman: Blood Smells Like Roses】
Poets on The Hitman: Blood Smells Like RosesCouches: Carl Phillips
Poets on Couches
In this series of videograms, poets read and discuss the poems getting them through these strange times—broadcasting straight from their couches to yours. These readings bring intimacy into our spaces of isolation, both through the affinity of poetry and through the warmth of being able to speak to each other across the distances.
“It Is the Rising That I Love”
by Linda Gregg
Issue no. 101 (Winter 1986)
As long as I struggle to float above the ground
and fail, there is reason for this poetry.
On the stone back of the Ludovici throne, Venus
is rising from the water. Her face and arms
are raised, and two women trained in the ways
of the world help her rise, covering her
nakedness with a cloth at the same time.
If this continues, she, goddess of beauty
and love will have accomplished the earth
where I stand. She from water to land,
me from earth to air as if I had a soul.
It is the rising I love, in no matter what
element, to the one above. As I ascend, helped
by prayers and not by women, I say in all my
sexual glamor, see my body bathed in light and air.
See me rise like a flame, like the sun, moon,
stars, birds, wind. In light. In dark.
But I never achieve it. I get down on my knees
this grey April to see if open crocuses have a smell.
I must live in the suffering and desire of what
rises and falls. The terrible blind grinding
of gears against our bodies and lives.
Carl Phillips teaches at Washington University in St. Louis. His most recent book is the poetry collection Pale Colors in a Tall Field. Read his Art of Poetry interview.
Search
Categories
Latest Posts
Steam removed a school shooting game, but there's a bigger problem
2025-06-26 09:04I created a rapping alter ego to deal with my soul
2025-06-26 09:04PUBG owners sue Fortnite to 'protect copyright'
2025-06-26 07:40Sabalenka vs. Svitolina 2025 livestream: Watch Madrid Open for free
2025-06-26 07:26Popular Posts
The Story Behind the Home of Forgotten Video Games
2025-06-26 08:41The Pokémon games on Nintendo Switch look like a dream come true
2025-06-26 07:00Featured Posts
FreeSync 2 Explained
2025-06-26 07:27Apple releases iOS 11.4 with Messages in iCloud
2025-06-26 07:24The Atari VCS is now available for pre
2025-06-26 07:09Popular Articles
Fritz vs. Ruud 2025 livestream: Watch Madrid Open for free
2025-06-26 09:18'Fortnite' adds a vehicle for the first time: The shopping cart
2025-06-26 08:46IKEA backs out of Nashville store to focus on digital sales instead
2025-06-26 07:55Newsletter
Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates.
Comments (84828)
Treasure Information Network
The Amazon Book Sale is coming April 23 through 28
2025-06-26 09:28Passion Information Network
Soccer player takes to Instagram to defend gun tattoo
2025-06-26 09:19Reality Information Network
'Don't feel sorry for me, guys': Roseanne Barr is back on Twitter
2025-06-26 09:11Unconstrained Information Network
Puerto Rico deaths from Hurricane Maria may be undercounted by 1000s
2025-06-26 08:37Quality Information Network
The Sound and the “Furious”
2025-06-26 07:59