Chapbook Update 17: Elizabeth S. Wolf

More from the chapbook Burnt, written by Scott Madoulet. Mr. Madoulet resides in Washington. This appears near the end of the book.  It may have started as a list poem, or a dictionary poem. A dictionary poem traditionally goes beyond the conventional meaning of the word or brings in other associations. I found this thoughtful and haunting.

Redemption

to redeem oneself

to buy back

to recover by payment

to recover by doing something

to clear a debt

to purchase the freedom of

to save from damnation

to save from the consequences of sin

to make up for deficiencies

to make up for one’s former faults

redemption…