A reliable source has informed me that my "Five Last Minute Christmas Ideas" post from last year generated at least one purchase of a book of Canadian poetry. A less-reliable source has informed me that my pick of Karen Solie's Pigeon as the first of my five recommendations was the deciding factor in last year's Griffin Prize jury deliberation. My sources, reliable or not, agreed that I should do it again this year.
Here, then, are some more suggestions of new-ish poetry books for poetry fans and maybe-possibly-soon-to-become poetry fans alike:
Who’s Damian Rogers? A poet. A Canadian one. Well, if you consider Detroit to be "North Windsor", in the Journey-lyrics sense. And she's living in Toronto now, which makes her slightly more Canadian. The internet can tell you more.
What’s this book? Sell it to me like it's a Canadian movie. Hmmm... how about "Poems about Shakers. Wait, don't leave! They're really good. I promise!"
I'm a bargain hunter. Is this book a bargain? Well, there are 48 poems and the book costs $16.95, so you pay a mere $0.35 a poem. You tell me. (p.s. The answer is "Yes!")When I'm in the bookstore considering my purchase, which poem should I read to seal the deal? “New House”, pg. 23.
Ok, I was lying in that last question. My plan was to Google the poem, then buy the book on Amazon. But I couldn't find that poem online! Got another one? "Dream of the Last Shaker", pg. 55. And also here, lazy.
Living Things by Matt Rader, Nightwood Editions, 2008
Who’s Matt Rader? A poet. A Canadian one, even if he lived in Oregon for a while. Still, Oregon's more Canadian than Toronto, so we shouldn't hold it against him. He's on Vancouver Island now. The internet can tell you more.
What’s this book? Sell it to me like it's a Canadian movie. Hmmm... how about "Poems about trees and plants. Wait, don't leave! They're really good. I promise!"
I'm a bargain hunter. Is this book a bargain? Well, there are 46 poems and the book costs $16.95, so you pay a mere $0.37 a poem. Yes, a bargain once again, it seems.
When I'm in the bookstore considering my purchase, which poem should I read to seal the deal? “Emergency Broadcast System”, pg. 49.
Ok, I was lying in that last question. My plan was to Google the poem, then buy the book on Amazon. But I couldn't find that poem online! Got another one? "The Great Mink", pg. 63. And also here.
But seriously, you should get out more.
Who’s Elise Partridge? A poet. A Canadian one, though I read somewhere that she's a Canadian-American dual citizen. Can't we just keep things simple, people? Anyway, she lives in Vancouver. The internet can tell you more.
What’s this book? Sell it to me like it's a Canadian movie. Hmmm... how about "Poems about chemotherapy treatment. Wait, don't leave! They're really good. I promise!" Man, no one is making this easy on me...
I'm a bargain hunter. Is this book a bargain? Well, there are 38 poems and the book costs $18.95, so you pay a mere $0.50 a poem. That's the cost of a local phone call from a pay phone (remember those?) - a pretty good bargain, if you ask me.
When I'm in the bookstore considering my purchase, which poem should I read to seal the deal? "Chemo Side Effects: Vision", pg. 22.
Ok, I was lying in that last question. My plan was to Google the poem, then buy the book on Amazon. But I couldn't find that poem online! Got another one? "Chemo Side Effects: Memory", pg. 20. And also here.
You're ruining your eyes staring at that monitor all day, you know?
The Essential Don Coles by Don Coles, The Porcupine's Quill, 2009
Who’s Don Coles? A poet. A Canadian one, though he's lived in London, Stockholm, Florence, Munich, Copenhagen, Hamburg, Zurich... oh I give up with this "Canadian" thing. Let's just say he lives in Toronto and move on with it. The internet can tell you more. And more about his "selector", too.
What’s this book? Sell it to me like it's a Canadian movie. Hmmm... how about "Poems about people, some of whom are Canadian. Wait, don't leave! They're really good. I promise!"
I'm a bargain hunter. Is this book a bargain? Well, there are 30 poems and the book costs $12.95, so you pay a mere $0.43 a poem. Plus the poems are selected from six earlier collections. There's no weak stuff here in Bargain City!
When I'm in the bookstore considering my purchase, which poem should I read to seal the deal? "Somewhere Far from This Comfort", pg. 40.
Ok, I was lying in that last question. My plan was to Google the poem, then buy the book on Amazon. But I couldn't find that poem online! Got another one? "Sampling from a Dialogue", pg. 15. You can also read it here.
How about first, though, you take a little walk around the block? You know, just to get the circulation going.
A Short History of Forgetting by Paul Tyler, Gaspereau Press, 2010
Who’s Paul Tyler? A poet. A Canadian one. Ottawa, even (he's not messing around). A number of his poems are set in Baltimore, but that might only mean that he's been watching The Wire... The internet can't really tell you more, though you're welcome to give it a shot yourself.
What’s this book? Sell it to me like it's a Canadian movie. Hmmm... how about "Poems about trees and plants. Oh, and old people. Wait, don't leave! They're really good. I promise!"
I'm a bargain hunter. Is this book a bargain? Well, there are 49 poems and the book costs $19.95, so you pay a mere $0.41 a poem. Don Coles, you've just been undersold. Gordy Dodd is ashamed of you, Don.
When I'm in the bookstore considering my purchase, which poem should I read to seal the deal? "Adam Naming the Animals", pg. 9.
Ok, I was lying in that last question. My plan was to Google the poem, then buy the book on Amazon. But I couldn't find that poem online! Got another one? "Hungry", pg. 23. And also here.
Hopefully, though, you're already on your way out to the book store. I'd hate to think I was enabling your sedentary lifestyle by providing all these links. Don't disappoint me, lazy reader!
Want more recommendations? Vox Populist and Lemon Hound just offered some up as well. OR YOU CAN ALWAYS THINK FOR YOURSELF.
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