Cody's World

There was something in Cody’s poetry. She read at The Mill in downtown Iowa City on February 25th, 2009. And there was something in it that struck me deeply, which resounded. It was the fragmentary, mirror-like quality I think. Because suddenly, a feeling of dissociation would give way to the feeling of a wisdom-pin pricking the surface of my skin, and then it would vanish. The room was full of people listening intently, attempting to feel the impact of Cody’s words. And there are important things in there. Ideas about the importance of our natural environment, asymmetry, and self-righteousness. It was a quiet cry, yet a cry nonetheless from a pleading place in the action of our world.

The necessity, though, of Cody’s poetry to be read rather than heard detracted from the overall experience. That, as well as Cody’s apprehension to perform fully. It was as if Cody expected her words to be paid attention to regardless of her eagerness for them to be heard. One would think that if another had something crucial to say, that they would say it with an awareness and a focus intent upon the transference of material from their self to their target. This is not to say that Cody had nothing important to say. As I stated above, there were key moments in which Cody’s unclearness became clear, and ideas with “oomph” found their way to the audience. This is a testament to Cody’s work, that it can be performed hastily and still hold consequence. But she might try to explore the further possibilities of forthright performance.

“…a flood, a flock, a sky, a city…”, “…there is no wilderness in the sun..”, “…this is our own, we own it…”, “…there is no wilderness in the sky…”, “…look at the mess we’ve poured into the sky…”, “…of the heat inside a tight knot…”, “…time does not equal a bird…” all long to be heard, to be shouted, not to be subtly suggested.

Still, I’d recommend reading Cody’s work. It’s not simple. It sounds as if it plays within itself using punctuation to emphasize interconnectivity and fragmentation, mathematics, science, and beauty.

-Jacob Zawa ‘09