Maria Bodin’s debut poetry collection, ”Kristinafragment” (Kristina Fragments), delves into the historical and religious figure of Queen Kristina of Sweden, specifically focusing on the exhumation of her remains in 1965 and the subsequent investigation into her gender identity. The poems, infused with a raw despair and existential paradox, explore themes of life outside societal categories, encompassing dualities like life/death, male/female, speech/silence, and love/solitude. Bodin utilizes the resurrection myth and imagery of biblical figures such as Jesus, Lazarus, and Symeon to construct a framework for grappling with these complex themes. The examination of Queen Kristina’s remains, undertaken to determine whether she was intersex, serves as a central motif, reflecting broader questions of identity and societal categorization.
The collection’s visual and structural elements further enhance its thematic exploration. The pages are imbued with a violet hue, a color associated with penitence and remorse in church tradition, while photographs of fragments from Queen Kristina’s tomb, including hair locks and embroidery, are interspersed between the poems. This juxtaposition of text and image creates a multi-layered experience, drawing the reader deeper into the themes of mortality, identity, and the search for meaning. The inclusion of these fragments grounds the abstract philosophical explorations in tangible historical artifacts, emphasizing the connection between past and present.
Bodin’s poetry is characterized by its finely crafted language, rhythmic assurance, and intricate visual imagery. The poems grapple with the constraints of language, particularly its inadequacy in encompassing the complexities of human experience and embodiment. One particularly striking poem addresses this limitation directly, emphasizing how language often favors the ”heterosexual” and leaves others struggling to articulate their experiences. This poem, which also concludes the collection, highlights the inherent power dynamics embedded within language and its role in shaping perceptions of identity.
Despite the collection’s strengths, there is a sense that Bodin’s reliance on ekphrasis, the use of one art form to describe another, occasionally weakens the poems’ own imagery. The illustrations, while visually compelling, sometimes become tautological, diminishing the impact of the poems’ inherent complexity. This dependency on visual representation occasionally undermines the potential for the poems to stand alone and resonate independently. The limited size of the collection also leaves the reader desiring more of Bodin’s evocative and thought-provoking poetry. The brevity of the work feels somewhat constrained, leaving the potential for further exploration of these complex themes untapped.
The collection draws inspiration from other poets and historical figures. Bodin echoes the themes of solitude and religious experience explored by contemporary poet Judith Kiros in ”Det röda är det gränslösa” (The Red is the Boundless), which focuses on the life and writings of Julian of Norwich. Similar to Kiros’s work, Bodin uses the religious and historical context as a launching pad for exploring contemporary issues of identity, societal expectations, and the search for meaning in a complex world. This interplay between historical figures and contemporary concerns adds depth and resonance to Bodin’s work.
Overall, ”Kristinafragment” showcases Bodin as a promising poet with undeniable talent and a sharp intellect. The collection’s exploration of profound themes, coupled with its meticulous attention to language and visual presentation, marks a compelling debut. However, a greater willingness to embrace poetic risk-taking and loosen the reins of ekphrasis could further elevate her work. The collection hints at a significant potential that, with further development and exploration, could lead to even more impactful and resonant poetry. The constrained size of the book also leaves the reader anticipating future works where Bodin can more fully explore the rich thematic landscape she has established.
