Melissa Range

"A national poetry series winner selected and with a foreword by Tracy K. Smith"--Front cover.

Poems

Scriptorium

Ryan LaFerney

Melissa Range’s “Scriptorium” is one of the winners of the 2015 National Poetry Series. Being that April is National Poetry Month I decided I needed to read something by a new poet. The title of Range's little book of poems "Scriptorium", which thematically addresses the preservation of language, stories, and culture; and devotion, faith and God, caught my eye. Perhaps this is because, like Range, I too am fascinated by the written word, medieval texts, and theology. 

Scriptorium is a curious work. Range jumps between her own Appalachian roots: its culture and dialect, and old English, ancient stories from Beowolf to Byrhtnoth, the Ealdorman of Essex who fought the Vikings in 991 A.D. to poems about monks making pigment to paint icons and altar pieces. Perhaps what ties all these poems together is that each poem is an exploration of language and how language travels and morphs throughout time. Her poems are beautiful (and occasionally full of playful fury) However, Scriptorium can be a jarring read at first. It's hard to see how the poems are threaded together. This is purposeful on part of the author....as really, each poem is about the use of language: practically, theologically, etc. 

“Scriptorium” should be read by those who love the written word. It should also be read by those who wrestle with ideas, family, faith, and their own place in the cosmos. And if you're a fan of the medieval ages, check this out.

Favorite poems: Negative Theology and Navajo Code Talkers, WWII

Scriptorium Poems

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