Cutting The Stems [TRADE PAPER ]

A playful exploration of language, gender, and identity through experimental poetry.

Cutting the Stems, translated from the French, is a long poem that blends gardening manuals, etymological dictionaries, and gemstone guides into an un-poetic pastiche. Wordplay and linguistic borrowings create a surreal exchange between she and he, blurring gender lines and questioning poetic norms. As the florist-speaker tends to words, cutting stems mirrors cutting language, allowing sentences to bloom.

This collection invites readers to:

• Discover the instability of language.
• Question poetic conventions.
• Explore fluid identities.

Perfect for lovers of experimental literature and contemporary poetry, this dual-language edition enriches the experience. Experience the beauty of language with Virginie Lalucq's unique voice.

Virginie Lalucqwas born in 1975 and lives in Paris. She is the author ofCouper les tiges(Act Mem/ Comp’act, 2001) andFortino Sámano,Les débordements du poème(with Jean-Luc-Nancy, Galilée 2004) translated by Sylvain Gallais and Cynthia Hogue (Omnidawn, 2012). She has been member of the editorial collective for the journalNioquesfor twenty years. The Center for the Study of Poetry (ENS) in Lyons describes Lalucq’s poetry: "A certain desire to experiment characterizes her work, a desire that translates most clearly in the number of collaborative performances and writing projects."Céline Bourhisis a lecturer at Bradley University where she teaches global literature and technical writing courses. Her research interests include postcolonial studies, postmodern literature, and life writing. Prior to her teaching appointment, she worked as an editorial assistant at Dalkey Archive Press and published interviews with authors inContext.Claire McQuerry's poetry and translations have appearl.