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''Divine Comedies'' is the seventh book of poetry by James Merrill (1926–1995). Published in 1976 (see 1976 in poetry), the volume includes " Lost in Translation" and all of ''The Book of Ephraim''. ''The Book of Ephraim'' is the first of three books which make up ''
The Changing Light at Sandover
''The Changing Light at Sandover'' is a 560-page epic poem by James Merrill (1926–1995). Sometimes described as a postmodern apocalyptic epic, the poem was published in three volumes from 1976 to 1980, and as one volume "with a new cod ...
supernatural
Supernatural refers to phenomena or entities that are beyond the laws of nature. The term is derived from Medieval Latin , from Latin (above, beyond, or outside of) + (nature) Though the corollary term "nature", has had multiple meanings si ...
experiences with a Ouija board, ''Divine Comedies'' was far more candid about the extent of a practice which had preoccupied Merrill for several decades. ''The Book of Ephraim'', in taking the spiritual as its working landscape, took
confessionalism Confessionalism may refer to:
* Confessionalism (poetry)
* Confessionalism (religion)
* Confessionalism (politics)
Confessionalism is a system of government that is a ''de jure'' mix of religion and politics. It typically entails distributing poli ...
to an entirely unexpected territory. Merill believed that many historical poets of eras past, including W. H. Auden, speak through the Ouija board, as well as Merrill's old friend, the filmmaker Maya Deren.
Some readers dismiss Merrill's unorthodox working methods. The Ouija board, telegraphing its eerie messages in capital letters, conveys poetry through automatic writing. Merrill's partner, David Jackson, shared the teacup and transcription duties which led to ''The Book of Ephraim''.
The volume includes the 92-page-long '' The Book of Ephraim'' and the following shorter poems: ''The Kimono'', '' Lost in Translation'', ''McKane's Falls'', ''Chimes for Yahya'', ''Manos Karastefanis'', ''Yannina'', ''Verse for Urania'', ''The Will'', and ''Whitebeard on Videotape''
''Divine Comedies'' was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1977.