English Studies Forum

Exhibits at a New York Gallery

James Wren

Tu ne cede malis sed contra audentior ito

I. Raku Sculpture (ca. 11 September)

Cranes circle overhead

An elemental glaze

The anguished face of recent events

Exposing self-doubt

The ineffable pink

A single lotus blossom

stripped bare

Another child cries

Rumors soaked in rain

Humanity kowtowing

Bamboo sprouts

Against the horizon

Slowly dredged from the sulphur

Pits of hell

Douched in bilge water

The ancient art of raku masters

Resurrected

Resilient

. . . Among the ashes

Broken wishbones and charred carrion

Prey

II. Seattle’s Red Square (an installation)

A pristine fall

Gathering

At first sight

No more than ten people

Swatches of red, some white

Ribbons

Without words

Hands intertwined

A human circle

Forming by a

Few

Dozens

the many

Friends among strangers

Silent

Save the cawing of a lone sea gull swooping in overhead

Wiping away the tears

Silence against the overwhelming roar

As a commercial jetliner passes from sight

In aerie unison

Heads snapped nervous

Beseeching the sky

In the wake of calm

No

Peace

Hints of healing

Believing

Uncertain promises bring terror

Knowing

What we saw

What remained

Awakened forever

III. A Visitations (performance art)

Voluble matrons

Their apathetic daughters in tow

Women

Anointed

An infinite cycle

Birth, death and birthing

They abdicate to no

One