Periodicity by Iris A. Law

“In PERIODICITY, Iris Law dedicates herself to the subject of women and the scientific pursuits that enthralled them and in most cases became their lifelong obsession and work. The poems’ personae include Marie Lavoisier; Ada (Byron’s daughter); sisters Irène Joliot-Curie and Eve Curie Labouisse; Barbara McClintock; Maria Mitchell; Beatrix Potter; Faith Sai So Leong (the first Chinese American dentist); botanist Jane Colden, and nuclear physicist Chien-Shiung Wu. They were wives, partners, sisters, or daughters; and all of them in one way or another have often been cast by history in an auxiliary role, or as overshadowed by someone with greater fame. The lessons they learned from studying the natural world are much like lessons that are valuable to the poet: attention to the sensuous details of the widest array of material existence, to the urge to document, name, and create taxonomies; to tease order out of chaos and the ineffable. Working within both metaphorical and gendered frameworks, the women in these poems successfully refute the fixities inherent in any idea of classification. They proclaim, ‘We do not mirror one another. Rather, we resist replication, shaping our stories stubbornly against our chosen vectors . . .’ To the landscape of contemporary poetry, Iris Law brings a striking and intelligent sensibility, and a lovely, lucid voice; I look forward to reading more from this young poet in the near future.”
–Luisa A. Igloria

“Law makes scientific language delightfully rhythmic, and it’s a revelation to discover how a talented poet can turn the austere language of science into lyrical, though still disciplined, reveries. . . . Though just eighteen poems, this potent collection resonates with insight and flair.”
–Orlando Ricardo Menes

“Exploring the atomic order of creation and its mysteries, Law’s technique ranges skillfully from open field composition to tercets with luminous lines. . . . the world of PERIODICITY transcends empirical nature to a realm of grace and the soul’”

–Karen An-hwei Lee

Iris A. Law is a Kundiman Fellow and the editor of the online Asian American poetry journal and blog, LANTERN REVIEW. Born and raised in New Jersey, she received her M.F.A. in Creative Writing from the University of Notre Dame. She currently lives and works in Lexington, Kentucky. Visit her online at www.irisalaw.com.

Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!]