A collection of poems, “The Limits of Light”, by poet and author Susan A. Katz of Washington, Connecticut, was released to bookstores and online on August 31, 2021 by Austin Macauley Publishers, (London, Cambridge, New York, Sharjah).
“The Limits of Light” features a collection of narrative poems that explores the tales of Greek Mythology, and their contemporary messages. The gods, ostensibly divine beings, it would appear, “were much like us: avaricious and untrustworthy; vindictive and myopic; malicious and indulgent. It is almost as if these ancient stories foretold the future,” commented Katz.
From Apollo, who was thwarted in love, to Scylla who betrays her father for lust, to Icarus who strives to fly to the sun, only to fall to his death… the tales of the gods unfold in Katz’s compelling and dramatic narrative poetry.
A widely, nationally and internationally published poet, Katz’s work has appeared in numerous anthologies, journals, and literary magazines. With the publication of “The Limits of Light”, she will have published four books of poetry, and co-authored two textbooks with music specialist, Judith A. Thomas, espousing the need to incorporate the arts into school curriculum.
For more than 30 years, Katz worked for The New York State Poets in Public Service, and then, with music/movement specialist, Judith A. Thomas, conducted student/teacher poetry workshops in the United States and Canada. Her work has been cited as: “…precise imagery, directness, and honesty…outspokenly erotic and sensual, evoking a powerful sense of physical passion and deeply felt experiences.” – Robert Wilson, Poetry Editor, Negative Capability.
“Susan A. Katz is a God-blessed poet. She does not sing in chorus,” stated Menke Katz, Poet, Editor, Professor, Philosopher, and no relation to Susan A. Katz.
For more than 50 years, Katz has been actively writing and publishing poetry. She finds inspiration for her poems in the intricacies, and intimacies, of life and family, the hazards of living, and the beauty and wonder of the natural world. Her poems reveal her intense passion for the living quality of language. Katz believes that “Poetry is the need to write beyond the limits of choice; the freedom to see beyond the limits of light.”
“The Gift: In the Beginning”
In the beginning
Darkness was all
There was no hint of light punctured
The insidious everything
That was the husk of night…
“The Limits of Light”
How colossal was the dream to soar
Skewered on shards of ageless
Air a sprite
Or kindred spirit to the birds…
“Hollow Hearts” (Apollo & Daphne)
You were light so pure it blinded
As it bled from heaven and made whole
The harvest made safe the flocks
Made of wind music and of the breeze
Song…
“Philos – Aphilos”: “Love in hate – hate in love”
Agememnon in some dark place perhaps
Your name grows like a flower
Still blood-red and trembling
In the face of history’s dawn…
Titles of additional poems in Susan A. Katz’s “The Limits of Light” include “The Rape of Persephone” (Persephone & Hades); Of Beauty Born (Medusa); To Phaeton (Phaeton & Apollo); By What Name Love (Minos, King of Crete, made war upon Megara; Nisus was the King of Megara and Scylla was his daughter); What Matters (Narcissus & Echo); Hazard of the Heart (Zeus); and The Gift (In the End)
The cost of “The Limits of Light” collection of poetry is $8.95, and her works and poetry can be found on her website https://www.poetladykatz.com. “The Limits of Light” is available at http://www.austinmacauley.com/us/book/limits-light; Amazon: https://amzn.to/3keuIo8; Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/3gkAUKi; The Book Depository: https://bit.ly/3gmcG2m; and in select bookstores.