Introduction to ‘Beautiful Signor’
‘Beautiful Signor’ is a poignant poem featured in Cyrus Cassells’ acclaimed poetry collection of the same name. This piece serves as a heartfelt tribute to love and its enduring power, serving as an ode to lovers everywhere. Cassells harnesses the profound theme of romantic love, embedding it within the historical context of the AIDS epidemic, which adds layers of meaning and urgency to his work.
The Themes of Love and Wandering
The poem opens with the recognition of an endless wanderlust, reflecting the longing often associated with love. Through phrases like ‘dervish’ and ‘april-upon-april love’, Cassells captures the essence of a love that is alive, vibrant, and ever-moving. This love permeates the speaker’s being, painting an image of both beauty and pain. The term ‘beautiful signor’ itself encapsulates the admiration and affection that drives the speaker towards a deeper connection.
Cultural Context and Impact
Set against the backdrop of a challenging period, the AIDS epidemic, Cassells’ poem challenges readers to reflect upon the beauty that persists amidst despair. His dedication to ‘lovers everywhere’ expands the reach of the poem, resonating with individuals across varied experiences of love. By employing powerful imagery and evocative language, Cassells reminds us that even in difficult times, the beauty of romantic love can inspire and uplift.
Beautiful Signor
By Cyrus Cassells
All dreams of the soul
End in a beautiful man’s or woman’s body.
—Yeats, “The Phases of the Moon”
Whenever we wake,
still joined, enraptured—
at the window,
each clear night’s finish
the black pulse of dominoes
dropping to land;
whenever we embrace,
haunted, upwelling,
I know
a reunion is taking place—
Hear me when I say
our love’s not meant to be
an opiate;
helpmate,
you are the reachable mirror
that dares me to risk
the caravan back
to the apogee, the longed-for
arms of the Beloved—
Dusks of paperwhites,
dusks of jasmine,
intimate beyond belief
beautiful Signor
no dread of nakedness
beautiful Signor
my long ship,
my opulence,
my garland
beautiful Signor
extinguishing the beggar’s tin,
the wind of longing
beautiful Signor
laving the ruined country,
the heart wedded to war
beautiful Signor
the kiln-blaze
in my body,
the turning heaven
beautiful Signor
you cover me with pollen
beautiful Signor
into your sweet mouth—
This is the taproot:
against all strictures,
desecrations,
I’ll never renounce,
never relinquish
the first radiance, the first
moment you took my hand—
This is the endless wanderlust:
dervish,
yours is the April-upon-April love
that kept me spinning even beyond
your eventful arms
toward the unsurpassed:
the one vast claiming heart,
the glimmering,
the beautiful and revealed Signor.
