Poems by the Baroness Elsa von Freytag-Loringhoven

Elsa von Freytag-Loringhoven, Facing, 1924, ink and pastel on foil, 7 1/2 x 4 1/4 inches. Courtesy Francis M. Naumann Fine Art, New York.

Editorial note: These three previously unpublished poems by the Baroness were transcribed by Tanya Clement as part of her curated feature on the modernist poet and are discussed in Clement’s essay in Jacket2. Visit the Baroness archives at the University of Maryland to view manuscripts for “Astride” and “Aphrodite to Mars”; visit Clement’s online edition of the Baroness and browse through alternatively titled versions of the poem “Purgatory Lilt” to view “Hell’s Wisdom,” which is transcribed below. — Julia Bloch

“Astride” 
“Aprhodite to Mars”
“Hell's Wisdom” 

Astride
(read the original manuscript in the Baroness archives)

Saddling
Up
From
Fir
Nightbrimmed ⎯
Clinkstirrupchink!
Silverbugle
Copperrimmed ⎯
Keening ⎯
Heathbound
Roves
Moon
Pink ⎯
Straddling
Neighing
Stallion :
“HUEESSUEESSUEESSSOOO
HYEEEEEE PRUSH
HEE HEE HEEEEEEAAA
OCHKZPNJRPRRRR
            HÜ
           /     \
HÜÜ            HÜÜÜÜÜÜ
        HÜ-HÜ!”
Aflush
Brink
Through
Foggy
Bog
They
Slink ⎯
Sink
Into
Throbb
Bated.
Hush
Falls ⎯
Stiffling ⎯
Shill
Crickets
Shrill ⎯
Bullfrog
Squalls
Inflated
Bark
Riding
Moon’s
Mica –
Groin ⎯
Strident!

Hark!

Stallion
Whinny’s
In
Thickets.

EvFL

 

 

 

Aphrodite to Mars
(read the original manuscript in the Baroness archives)

Flashing blade –
Poniard buried –
High
Flexible tenderness web
Abdominal
Of
Systems
Equal steel
Shaped
Female

Aflirt
Mars’
Buried blade’s
Keenness aggressive
Into
Keenness’ receptive
Aristocratic
Fit.

Octopus charm’s
Alluring
Rubberdisk tenacity –
Sucking
Soft – energetic
Into
Systems mobile
Knit
Ceasar’s
Digging
Point
Sharp kiss
Plenishing
Snapping thirst’s
Drill gash
Rimflush
Ruby blood’s desire
Equal
Of
Quality true –
Gushing –
Ejaculating silently
High
To
Stain glintedges chased
Pained tempered
Flirt
Ceasar’s crimson
Supreme
Cardinal
Sheath
In
Hedges
Of
Pride’s beam –
Brave blade’s
Flash point –
Poniard steel
Mars asleep
At
Hearth
Olympic.

Octopus love pillows
Recuperating
Capacity
Suckdisks clinglust
To
Sharp arm
Within
Ecstatic
Elasticity
Feminine

Increases!

Tournament dale –
Mattress
Of
Supremely laurelled
Victor

Maturesmiled –
Rosestrewn –
Gaping –
Openpetalled –
Abandonflushed –
Deep – satiated – red
By:
Virtue’s daring
Brilliancy –
Adorned

EvFL

 

 

 

Hell’s Wisdom
(read the original manuscript in the Baroness archives)

<All wisdom is profoundly trivial>
Love is gravitation

My "Derangement" dwells in absence – as – under circumstances existing – normally – it
should be present.
It maintains in circumstance –
There I leave it.
My being in senses right is normal height.
It being uncommon – presents strange - as genius does - uncompanioned.
Victim of circumstance I am not – as I am no dweller in
For me - to be touched - touchably - by circumstance - normal
To vacuous spectres of substance past - should so be abnormal – as to cause revulsion
degree –
Provoking instant insanity – whence I am protected by radius of spiritual emanation

To circumstance I am immaterial - as is circumstance to me.
Diametricaly opposed - alone we leave each other - charmed aloft
Lone I - enhanced shrouded earth – by own atmosphere mine self’s own self – out-of
circumstance cosmic star - volve revolve - evolve -I do - by starshaped pride stygmatized
outcast from circumstanced press - presssure – I am.

Social insanity - cosmic sanity - visible flesh - I am not present.
Cosmic resident .
That means :
Responsibility sublime
Capacity to measure.
Bliss – damnation – alternating until equilibrium attainment
Sway
Balance
Scalefix.

Solution perfect of two in one.
2: 1.
Two in one is nil.
2 : 1 = .
Urstate sublimatedly
Lifted sublime by blood sacrificial power flux :
Radiance suffusion.
Light equals light:
Motion – rise
Impulse. Motion –
Top sun - it
             
Scalefix.

Matter at ever higher level put
Until cristal state –
Graded circle:
                                
One and all is circle
      1 + =
All in one is nil.
: 1 =
Nil is allsum
=
Allsum is in nil
= :
Life conquered – emotion solved
Measureless limitless urfigure
Assembled.
Circle
Navel
Nil.

           Betwixt :
           Swing –
           Wheel
           Scale
           Until:
           Shot
           Middle
           Spot
           Hit - :
           Radiance
           Adash.

EvFL