Song of the Sister by Leia John
Published by Anxiety Press
Review by Joe Haward
5/5
In the later part of the second century, Apuleius wrote the Metamorphoses. The main character, Lucius, travels to Thessaly seeking knowledge of magic and witchcraft. Once there, with the help of his lover who is a witch’s slave, Lucius discovers that the witch can transform into a bird. Captivated by this remarkable gift, Lucius begs his lover to help him change into a bird. Unfortunately the lover accidentally mixes the spells up:
“…my hair grew coarse and bristly… a long tail began to grow from the extremity of my spine. My face grew huge … my ears also extended to an immoderate length and were crowned with bristles. Lost and desperate, I surveyed my body over and perceived that I was not a bird but an ass…”
Eventually he becomes human again, yet not without experiencing maltreatment and abuse. Ultimately his quest for identity is not simply discovered in his human form, but through the trials in becoming human. Song of the Sister by Leia John carries that same sense of human identity discovery, recognising the ‘self’ within trial and then liberation. Yet, unlike Lucius whose longings turn him into an ass, Song of the Sister reveals how human longings can lead us towards a greater sense of our own human identity.
The title, Song of the Sister is a direct play upon the Hebrew sex poem, Song of Songs, found in the Hebrew scriptures. Song of Songs tells the story of two lovers and their desire for the other. It is full of sexual imagery, and oozes with longing to be satisfied, both physically and emotionally. In Song of the Sister, Leia John masterfully captures that same power in poetic storytelling.
Song of the Sister is formed by three parts – Transfiguration, Lamentation, and Communion. Each part is made up of eight poems, making a collection of twenty-four poems that tattoo themselves upon your consciousness.
Each poem is rich in imagery, drawing from powerful concepts, both ancient and modern, challenging the reader to look behind the closed doors of intimacy and relational idiosyncrasies, and listen to the lust, love, emotional, and sexual longings of human desire. There are subtle moments of biblical references that might pass by some readers, whilst others will see John giving a wink and a nod to these ancient concepts. And these references work well, highlighting how humanity, in its desires and behaviors, have never changed.
There is a lived reality to this collection, each poem unafraid to tell us how things really are, and what it looks like to crave human connection. Yes, Song of the Sister explores sexual desire, but it locates that desire in a variety of ways, from lusting satisfaction, to the safety and connection found in the arms of another.
Leia John has produced a masterpiece collection, beautifully put together, both in word and image, like a piece of art thanks to Anxiety Press. Your world will be enriched from reading it.