Recently, I recommended John Donlan's poetry to one of our esteemed regular commentarians; following up on that, here's a description of the poet's newest, Spirit Engine, as well as a second link, one outlining his stops on the cross-country tour the Canadian's about to undertake (and, some of these places are close enough to hop across the border effortlessly).
[(Thanks, DL :)) . . . Great catch!]
You've got to stop this; I just got 3 of Ed Blodgett's Apostrophes (III, V, & VI) in the mail from Amazon.ca today after you recommended him earlier.
ReplyDeleteOf course, the best Canadian work (or, frankly, work of any nationality) I've read recently is Roy Kiyooka's Pear Tree Pomes which was nominated for the Governor General's Award in 1987, a wonderful sequence of lyric meditations on love, loss, beauty, fruitfulness, and decay. Too bad it's not readily available any longer.
Hehe . . . Sorry, Hedgie, I can't help it; it was worth it; I'd do it again! You must let me know what you think of Blodgett's work, though; especially now, knowing how you feel about Roy Kiyooka (and, I thought he did win the G-G for poetry eventually). But, when I hear you describe his work, I am immediately reminded of another book, Diamond Grill, by Fred Wah that I think you would just LOVE (and, on this, I'll even offer a money-back guarantee!).
ReplyDeleteRoy, BTW, is connected with Daphne Marlatt, also a wonderful poet, one not widely read in this century because her novels have taken (ooh, a natural pun) centre-stage. I could go on; but, your bank account would collapse; so, shall zip all digit/al tips (for at least a month while you replenish).
p.s. I notice John's got readings skedded across the prairies, though . . . so, if you could go, you could say I made you do it; then, he might give you a really big discount (or else, I shall have to kill him next time he visits without announcing his arrival a priori, a not-wonderful thing for anyone to do to me; but, he's so charming, he gets away with every time, every time, sigh . . .)
Actually, I have one volume of Daphne Marlatt's work (This Tremor Love Is) and had a standing order for another which Amazon.ca now tells me is unavailable. I'm familiar with some of Wah's work from anthologies and will have to look for Diamond Grill.
ReplyDeleteAs far as attending readings goes, since I live in the Deep (U. S.) South, it's not likely any time soon, although I do hope to get back up that way in a couple of years.
Welp, if you're in this 'hood of Gawd's Country Wood, bring yer fishin' pole, Hedgie (and, let me know before you go bonkers dealing with a dame who's so not game to surprises . . . erm, ask John if you ever do meet him. He'll define glare in a way you've never heard; all you need to know? It rhymes with "scare" :)).
ReplyDeletep.s. I have *all* of Daphne's books (so, that's incentive, 2)
p.p.s. [*sigh*] Okay, I feel sorry for you (since, I'm in the broke-house, too, Hedgeroo :) . . .
ReplyDeleteThere are three Donlan poems examined in this issue of Canadian Literature; just click on the titles of the other two; as well, John has a website (I conceived and created but no longer web-mistressicate) which also contains (besides my favourite font / typeface I wish I'd kept for myself) quite a lot of JohnDonlaniana, hey, I like that; he'll hate it :( . . . GOOD!