Dancing between the blasphemous and holy, between lowbrow and high concept, the poems in Sacrosanct blur boundaries, question dichotomies, and undermine assumptions. Centering “bad” women who challenge expectations of gender, faith, and class, Adele Elise Williams transports readers into a space where everything is familiar yet nothing is as expected.
This collection is firmly grounded in Southern working-class life and culture while drawing from multiple religious traditions and moving effortlessly between carnal pleasures and divine joy. Through innovative lyric forms and provocative associations, Sacrosanct finds holiness where least expected and most deserved. It will leave readers hungry for more.
“Look at me right now. All spiritualized.
All pithy and trenchant. On the sunset slope
of somebody’s alibi, of my own wild pulse.
Forcing sog sop against my back like
a rake. Suffing my caw maw with fitch and fumb.
Making up words like life goes on. Like anyone knows!”
—Excerpt from “I Want to Hold You”