Pavilion Poetry: Five-Minute Scan

The Poetry Book Society's Summer Choice, Recommended Translation 2019, is a remarkable work that exemplifies the power of language and self-expression. At its core, the book is a poignant exploration of the personal and societal implications of cancer, inspired by Audre Lorde's seminal work, "The Cancer Journals." In this essay, Lorde wrote, "I do not wish my anger and pain and fear about cancer to fossilise into yet another silence, not to rob me of whatever strength can lie at the core of this experience, openly acknowledged and examined."

Guided by this principle, Dutch writer Lieke Marsman's "The Following Scan Will Last Five Minutes" was composed in the three months following her own cancer diagnosis. The result is a compelling series of short poems, accompanied by an insightful essay that directly engages with Lorde's journal entries and personal reflections on the experience of cancer. Through this work, Marsman delves into the complexities of contemporary Dutch politics and, drawing on Susan Sontag's "Illness as Metaphor," examines the rhetoric surrounding her disease.

Marsman's work is a powerful synthesis of poetry, social criticism, and autobiography, offering an honest and dryly comic account of a transformative period in the author's life. The book's translation, masterfully executed by the poet Sophie Collins, further enhances its accessibility and impact. In her translator's note, presented as a letter to the author and friend, Collins provides valuable insights into the creative process and the challenges of rendering Marsman's unique voice in English.

The Poetry Book Society's Summer Choice, Recommended Translation 2019, is a testament to the power of the written word to confront, explore, and share the deeply personal experiences that shape our lives. Lieke Marsman's "The Following Scan Will Last Five Minutes" stands as a poignant and thought-provoking contribution to the ongoing conversation about illness, identity, and the transformative potential of art.

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