so who reads poetry anymore I along with the death of the novel that favorite
the death of the novel that favorite
the death of the novel that favorite topic of these papers which are
topic of these papers which are
topic of these papers which are themselves struggling for survival
themselves struggling for survival
themselves struggling for survival poetry’s lack of relevance in the 21st
poetry’s lack of relevance in the 21st
poetry’s lack of relevance in the 21st century seems to be a received idea a
century seems to be a received idea a
century seems to be a received idea a commonplace but that is an idea that
commonplace but that is an idea that
commonplace but that is an idea that needs to be examined in our age of
needs to be examined in our age of
needs to be examined in our age of virtual connections poetry is thriving
virtual connections poetry is thriving
virtual connections poetry is thriving it lives in pixels and flashes and it
it lives in pixels and flashes and it
it lives in pixels and flashes and it also lives in song and print and on
also lives in song and print and on
also lives in song and print and on subway posters and t-shirts I it might
subway posters and t-shirts I it might
subway posters and t-shirts I it might appear to be sleeping on bookshelves but
appear to be sleeping on bookshelves but
appear to be sleeping on bookshelves but it’s ready to be reanimated any time
it’s ready to be reanimated any time
it’s ready to be reanimated any time someone opens a book and reads a poem
someone opens a book and reads a poem
someone opens a book and reads a poem silently or aloud poetry tackle the big
silently or aloud poetry tackle the big
silently or aloud poetry tackle the big questions in a way that people seem to
questions in a way that people seem to
questions in a way that people seem to need have always needed long before the
need have always needed long before the
need have always needed long before the invention of the written word or much
invention of the written word or much
invention of the written word or much later of movable type it travels the
later of movable type it travels the
later of movable type it travels the world in an instant and it can change
world in an instant and it can change
world in an instant and it can change lives people still reach for lines of
lives people still reach for lines of
lives people still reach for lines of poetry to quote at major events or
poetry to quote at major events or
poetry to quote at major events or milestones in life certainly on the
milestones in life certainly on the
milestones in life certainly on the solemn ones when we’re feeling sad or
solemn ones when we’re feeling sad or
solemn ones when we’re feeling sad or reverential or maybe just dutiful at
reverential or maybe just dutiful at
reverential or maybe just dutiful at funerals or commemorations that’s when
funerals or commemorations that’s when
funerals or commemorations that’s when we look to poets for words to give voice
we look to poets for words to give voice
we look to poets for words to give voice to our grief to shine some light even if
to our grief to shine some light even if
to our grief to shine some light even if we can barely see it in times of crisis
we can barely see it in times of crisis
we can barely see it in times of crisis or in response to a major turn in
or in response to a major turn in
or in response to a major turn in history up homes go viral on social
history up homes go viral on social
history up homes go viral on social media I’ve seen it happen over and over
media I’ve seen it happen over and over
media I’ve seen it happen over and over on Facebook Twitter Instagram and then
on Facebook Twitter Instagram and then
on Facebook Twitter Instagram and then there’s joy we read or recite lines of
there’s joy we read or recite lines of
there’s joy we read or recite lines of poetry at the happy occasions the
poetry at the happy occasions the
poetry at the happy occasions the celebrations weddings baptisms baby
celebrations weddings baptisms baby
celebrations weddings baptisms baby naming ceremonies we’re excited ecstatic
naming ceremonies we’re excited ecstatic
naming ceremonies we’re excited ecstatic and we look to poets to give us the
and we look to poets to give us the
and we look to poets to give us the words poetry is also political spoken
words poetry is also political spoken
words poetry is also political spoken word and performance poets foreground
word and performance poets foreground
word and performance poets foreground that and George Eliot Clarke are
that and George Eliot Clarke are
that and George Eliot Clarke are parliamentary poet laureate was until
parliamentary poet laureate was until
parliamentary poet laureate was until recently the poet laureate of Toronto
recently the poet laureate of Toronto
recently the poet laureate of Toronto and again is the poet laureate of
and again is the poet laureate of
and again is the poet laureate of Mississauga just outside Toronto
Mississauga just outside Toronto
Mississauga just outside Toronto Michelin mailer is the poet laureate of
Michelin mailer is the poet laureate of
Michelin mailer is the poet laureate of Calgary we approached poets to encourage
Calgary we approached poets to encourage
Calgary we approached poets to encourage poetry reading and writing in their
poetry reading and writing in their
poetry reading and writing in their communities to speak for cities and
communities to speak for cities and
communities to speak for cities and entire countries and I do recommend
entire countries and I do recommend
entire countries and I do recommend their work by the way poetry takes the
their work by the way poetry takes the
their work by the way poetry takes the long view it’s an art form that
long view it’s an art form that
long view it’s an art form that stretches back before historical records
stretches back before historical records
stretches back before historical records and it’s also entirely of our moment
and it’s also entirely of our moment
and it’s also entirely of our moment some song lyrics could be seen as poetry
some song lyrics could be seen as poetry
some song lyrics could be seen as poetry then nearly everyone is enthralled this
then nearly everyone is enthralled this
then nearly everyone is enthralled this ancient art still the Nobel Prize
ancient art still the Nobel Prize
ancient art still the Nobel Prize Committee certainly thinks that lyrics
Committee certainly thinks that lyrics
Committee certainly thinks that lyrics are literature they gave Bob Dylan the
are literature they gave Bob Dylan the
are literature they gave Bob Dylan the Nobel Prize for Literature this year his
Nobel Prize for Literature this year his
Nobel Prize for Literature this year his win sparked a huge debate among writers
win sparked a huge debate among writers
win sparked a huge debate among writers did he deserve this prize sure he did
did he deserve this prize sure he did
did he deserve this prize sure he did the name of a famous poet Dylan Thomas
the name of a famous poet Dylan Thomas
the name of a famous poet Dylan Thomas always your judgment but I would observe
always your judgment but I would observe
always your judgment but I would observe that the prize could just as well have
that the prize could just as well have
that the prize could just as well have gone to two Canadian singer songwriters
gone to two Canadian singer songwriters
gone to two Canadian singer songwriters in our case Joni Mitchell and Leonard
in our case Joni Mitchell and Leonard
in our case Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen Lee and her coming but I’ll point
Cohen Lee and her coming but I’ll point
Cohen Lee and her coming but I’ll point out that one of Dylan’s most famous
out that one of Dylan’s most famous
out that one of Dylan’s most famous songs blowin in the wind is a series of
songs blowin in the wind is a series of
songs blowin in the wind is a series of questions with an enigmatic answer to
questions with an enigmatic answer to
questions with an enigmatic answer to the title the song draws on folk poetry
the title the song draws on folk poetry
the title the song draws on folk poetry in the manner of Simon and Garfunkel’s
in the manner of Simon and Garfunkel’s
in the manner of Simon and Garfunkel’s Scarborough Fair that trend wouldst
Scarborough Fair that trend wouldst
Scarborough Fair that trend wouldst Emily in the wind at the time there’s a
Emily in the wind at the time there’s a
Emily in the wind at the time there’s a reason that nursery rhymes and folk
reason that nursery rhymes and folk
reason that nursery rhymes and folk lyrics ballads epic poems chants
lyrics ballads epic poems chants
lyrics ballads epic poems chants and evolve have lasted so long they fill
and evolve have lasted so long they fill
and evolve have lasted so long they fill a human need for patterns of rhythm
a human need for patterns of rhythm
a human need for patterns of rhythm rhyme and silence for truths delivered
rhyme and silence for truths delivered
rhyme and silence for truths delivered with a bell like ring for aphorisms for
with a bell like ring for aphorisms for
with a bell like ring for aphorisms for romantic desires give an expression for
romantic desires give an expression for
romantic desires give an expression for passing down stories and religious
passing down stories and religious
passing down stories and religious beliefs for mystery for nonsense and for
beliefs for mystery for nonsense and for
beliefs for mystery for nonsense and for off the most resonant poetry doesn’t
off the most resonant poetry doesn’t
off the most resonant poetry doesn’t flinch from asking the big questions and
flinch from asking the big questions and
flinch from asking the big questions and from at least partial attempts to answer
from at least partial attempts to answer
from at least partial attempts to answer them how can I win that person’s love
them how can I win that person’s love
them how can I win that person’s love why are we here where or what or who is
why are we here where or what or who is
why are we here where or what or who is or is
or is
or is they’re a god or goddess what is what is
they’re a god or goddess what is what is
they’re a god or goddess what is what is war like how do we define peace and your
war like how do we define peace and your
war like how do we define peace and your poems can also be sly shall I compare
poems can also be sly shall I compare
poems can also be sly shall I compare thee to a summers day oh please do a
thee to a summers day oh please do a
thee to a summers day oh please do a flattering
flattering
flattering the answer is not what you might expect
the answer is not what you might expect
the answer is not what you might expect thou art more lovely and more temperate
thou art more lovely and more temperate
thou art more lovely and more temperate wait well that’s even better
wait well that’s even better
wait well that’s even better so long lives this and this gives life
so long lives this and this gives life
so long lives this and this gives life to thee you’ll make me immortal with
to thee you’ll make me immortal with
to thee you’ll make me immortal with your poem so good poems often subvert
your poem so good poems often subvert
your poem so good poems often subvert your expectations the issue of
your expectations the issue of
your expectations the issue of timelessness can be thorny so much
timelessness can be thorny so much
timelessness can be thorny so much depends on cultural beliefs and
depends on cultural beliefs and
depends on cultural beliefs and assumptions still even if a poem isn’t
assumptions still even if a poem isn’t
assumptions still even if a poem isn’t always topical or relevant beyond a
always topical or relevant beyond a
always topical or relevant beyond a particular age or culture they do offer
particular age or culture they do offer
particular age or culture they do offer something that we ignore at our peril
something that we ignore at our peril
something that we ignore at our peril the American poet William Carlos
the American poet William Carlos
the American poet William Carlos Williams wrote it is difficult to get
Williams wrote it is difficult to get
Williams wrote it is difficult to get the news from homes yet men die
the news from homes yet men die
the news from homes yet men die miserably every day for lack of what is
miserably every day for lack of what is
miserably every day for lack of what is found there the American poet Emily
found there the American poet Emily
found there the American poet Emily Dickinson wrote tell all the truth but
Dickinson wrote tell all the truth but
Dickinson wrote tell all the truth but tell it slant poetry’s answers might be
tell it slant poetry’s answers might be
tell it slant poetry’s answers might be sometimes be indirect or intuitive but
sometimes be indirect or intuitive but
sometimes be indirect or intuitive but they are stronger for their subtlety and
they are stronger for their subtlety and
they are stronger for their subtlety and the way they stay open to interpretation
the way they stay open to interpretation
the way they stay open to interpretation I’ll tell you my story I started writing
I’ll tell you my story I started writing
I’ll tell you my story I started writing poems when I was about 8 years old and
poems when I was about 8 years old and
poems when I was about 8 years old and kept a journal in which I scribbled
kept a journal in which I scribbled
kept a journal in which I scribbled lines a couple of years on I can date
lines a couple of years on I can date
lines a couple of years on I can date this to my grade 5 classroom I wrote a
this to my grade 5 classroom I wrote a
this to my grade 5 classroom I wrote a line a poem that ended with the line I
line a poem that ended with the line I
line a poem that ended with the line I feel that my work like the world is
feel that my work like the world is
feel that my work like the world is recycled deep thoughts for a
recycled deep thoughts for a
recycled deep thoughts for a ten-year-old and somewhat funny the
ten-year-old and somewhat funny the
ten-year-old and somewhat funny the complaint of feeling like you’re simply
complaint of feeling like you’re simply
complaint of feeling like you’re simply repeating what’s been thought by others
repeating what’s been thought by others
repeating what’s been thought by others and by yourself goes a long way back in
and by yourself goes a long way back in
and by yourself goes a long way back in English poetry at least two studying
English poetry at least two studying
English poetry at least two studying inventions fine her wits to entertain of
inventions fine her wits to entertain of
inventions fine her wits to entertain of turning others leaves to see events with
turning others leaves to see events with
turning others leaves to see events with flow some fresh and fruitful showers
flow some fresh and fruitful showers
flow some fresh and fruitful showers upon my sunburned brain which is by Sir
upon my sunburned brain which is by Sir
upon my sunburned brain which is by Sir Philip Sidney’s aster Philip the first
Philip Sidney’s aster Philip the first
Philip Sidney’s aster Philip the first sign in Ostrava land Stella in the 1580s
sign in Ostrava land Stella in the 1580s
sign in Ostrava land Stella in the 1580s a stopped writing poetry in my early 30s
a stopped writing poetry in my early 30s
a stopped writing poetry in my early 30s I felt the pressure children and living
I felt the pressure children and living
I felt the pressure children and living to be more like a real adult a set
to be more like a real adult a set
to be more like a real adult a set poetry
poetry
poetry like give birth my third child this kid
like give birth my third child this kid
like give birth my third child this kid will seem to awaken my doorman poetry
will seem to awaken my doorman poetry
will seem to awaken my doorman poetry brainwaves well I was listening to him
brainwaves well I was listening to him
brainwaves well I was listening to him acquire language colliding images in his
acquire language colliding images in his
acquire language colliding images in his attempts to make sense of the world I
attempts to make sense of the world I
attempts to make sense of the world I realized I should be following him
realized I should be following him
realized I should be following him around with a notebook and I did so
around with a notebook and I did so
around with a notebook and I did so phrases he said such as moon moon and
phrases he said such as moon moon and
phrases he said such as moon moon and help me I’m stuck and am I thinking what
help me I’m stuck and am I thinking what
help me I’m stuck and am I thinking what I’m thinking
I’m thinking
I’m thinking made their way into my first book I
made their way into my first book I
made their way into my first book I realized with new clarity that people
realized with new clarity that people
realized with new clarity that people are born to poetry that as children we
are born to poetry that as children we
are born to poetry that as children we coin new world new words as Shakespeare
coin new world new words as Shakespeare
coin new world new words as Shakespeare did we seek to articulate to understand
did we seek to articulate to understand
did we seek to articulate to understand what’s beyond ourselves in what’s going
what’s beyond ourselves in what’s going
what’s beyond ourselves in what’s going on inside we take joy in words we play
on inside we take joy in words we play
on inside we take joy in words we play with them we whisper shout seeing them
with them we whisper shout seeing them
with them we whisper shout seeing them have to stop someone a real grown-up and
have to stop someone a real grown-up and
have to stop someone a real grown-up and tell them it’s an essential human
tell them it’s an essential human
tell them it’s an essential human impulse poetry can offer consolation or
impulse poetry can offer consolation or
impulse poetry can offer consolation or provide therapeutic catharsis it can
provide therapeutic catharsis it can
provide therapeutic catharsis it can redirect our over stimulated 21st
redirect our over stimulated 21st
redirect our over stimulated 21st century mind to focus on essential
century mind to focus on essential
century mind to focus on essential questions consider and reconsider our
questions consider and reconsider our
questions consider and reconsider our values and how we spend our time and
values and how we spend our time and
values and how we spend our time and help us appreciate natural beauty there
help us appreciate natural beauty there
help us appreciate natural beauty there are elements of philosophy and history
are elements of philosophy and history
are elements of philosophy and history in many poems both contemporary once in
in many poems both contemporary once in
in many poems both contemporary once in those mccannon and I have a simple
those mccannon and I have a simple
those mccannon and I have a simple suggestion for you read the poetry I
suggestion for you read the poetry I
suggestion for you read the poetry I recommend that you read indigenous poets
recommend that you read indigenous poets
recommend that you read indigenous poets Marilyn Dumont was Howard recently won
Marilyn Dumont was Howard recently won
Marilyn Dumont was Howard recently won the Griffin award
the Griffin award
the Griffin award Gregory Scofield I read the best of the
Gregory Scofield I read the best of the
Gregory Scofield I read the best of the English poetry read poetry and
English poetry read poetry and
English poetry read poetry and translation I and the lines will echo in
translation I and the lines will echo in
translation I and the lines will echo in your head so the final big question
your head so the final big question
your head so the final big question remains what is the role or use of
remains what is the role or use of
remains what is the role or use of poetry I would suggest that the English
poetry I would suggest that the English
poetry I would suggest that the English poet William Blake supplied the answer
poet William Blake supplied the answer
poet William Blake supplied the answer in his auguries of innocence to see a
in his auguries of innocence to see a
in his auguries of innocence to see a world in a grain of sand that heaven in
world in a grain of sand that heaven in
world in a grain of sand that heaven in a wild flower hold infinity in the palm
a wild flower hold infinity in the palm
a wild flower hold infinity in the palm of your hand an eternity in an hour
”
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