Bookworm
Peter Cole: The Invention of Influence
In Peter Cole's poetry, the Jewish mystical tradition gives rise to transmission of the spiritual vision.
By Michael Silverblatt • • 29m ListenPeter Cole's poetry is the culmination of a whole series of studies, practices and translations of works of Jewish Mysticism known as Kabbalah. He reads us a translation of a mystical poem, then he moves into his new book The Invention of Influence, (New Directions) and he reads a poem about Kabbalah in which the world, made of letters, is "coming together as it falls apart." We explore the "influence machine," which generates schizophrenic behavior. Finally we hear Coles' "Summer Syntax," which brings Kabbalah, schizophrenia and blissful vision together into one powerful poem.
Photo: © Adina Hoffman
