Preparatory to writing this introduction, I asked Marion Sue Fischer to describe what her poetry is about. We had a long conversation about her history, watching the world turn over the past few decades. At first, she said, she couldn’t stand what was going on; then she couldn’t even understand it. Finally, she found what she calls a back-door faith, born of desperation. Faith enables her to write compelling poems for the streets, for relationships, to friends, lovers, the land, the city – and for the spirit and absence of spirit in our lives. Her poetry is an attempt to get through to people. However. However. However.
I was honored that Marion asked me to edit her poetry, but confessed that I’d probably edit out her use of capital letters and underlining for what I considered its hysterical emphasis. “Oh,” she said laughing. “It used to be almost ALL words in caps when I realized how God has run out of patience with us. I would scream out my window, ‘Stop it now, just stop it!’ to the noise, the violence, the toxic fumes.”
Stern and harsh editor that I am, I realized that this method of writing is Marion’s own turning over of tables at the Temple. It is a necessary bearing witness to the cosmic exasperation. And so I haven’t changed a word, a letter, for this poetry is a door to REALITY.
Michele Marchand
SOMETHING ELSE
TO BE IN NEED, FORTHRIGHTLY, on EARTH, WILL FURTHER patience!!!