Search
-
October 05, 2021Poetry Should "Be Surprised By What it Says": David O'Meara on Why Poems Shouldn't Try to Be Poems
Canadian writers know Ottawa-based poet David O'Meara not only for his acclaimed collections but also his contributions to the community. From serving as the founding Artistic Director for VERSeFest ...
-
February 14, 2016Poetry to Pillowtalk: The 14 Best Poems to Woo a Lover
Looking to pitch some (bookish) woo? To celebrate Valentine's Day, we asked writers, publishing professionals and literary luminaries for their selection of the best poem with which to turn your beloved's ...
-
February 22, 2017
Poetry vs Prose part 1 of 2
”Why does Dane use words like poetry and prose yet refuse concepts like genre?”I've been accused of citing quotes unnecessarily, so I'll merely remind my readers of a very Canadian statement, “The ...
-
February 23, 2017
Poetry vs Prose part 2 of 2
“But what does this have to do with poetry and prose?”What is poetry? What is prose? If the medium is the message, and the primary medium for most written poetry and prose is the page, why don't we ...
-
May 30, 2021
Poetry: A Healing Tool for Dark Days
I started this month with mental health for writers, and I want to end it with a more personal look at the same topic.One of the many reasons I’ve been grateful to Open Book for offering me this residency ...
-
March 31, 2020Poets in Profile: Beatriz Hausner Talks Rimbaud, Growing Up with Poetry, and Canada's Need for International Literature
Toronto-based poet Beatriz Hausner's forthcoming new collection, Beloved Revolutionary Sweetheart (available April 16 through Book*hug) is an examination of humanity's long-standing love affair with, ...
-
April 30, 2020Poets in Profile: Catherine Owen on Accepting the Muse, Tennyson's "The Eagle", and the Politics of Poetry
After addiction claimed the life of her spouse in 2010, poet Catherine Owen packed up and moved into an apartment on Vancouver's Fraser River. During her morning walks along the shore, she found in its ...
-
April 16, 2020Poets in Profile: Conyer Clayton on John Berryman, Seeing the Big Picture, and Finding Acceptance
Originally from Kentucky, poet, multi-disciplinary artist, and gymnastics coach Conyer Clayton is a freshly-minted Canadian citizen who now calls Ottawa home. Her debut full-length collection, We Shed ...
-
July 22, 2020Poets in Profile: Elana Wolff on Alice Oswald, Perfect Couplets, and Glorious Misunderstandings
Toronto-based poet Elana Wolff should be no stranger to the Canadian poetry community. Her previous five books of poetry, all published through Toronto-via-Montreal mainstay Guernica Editions, have garnered ...
-
January 31, 2017Poets in Profile: February Writer-in-Residence Dane Swan
We're excited to introduce our February 2017 writer-in-residence, Dane Swan, whose most recent book, A Mingus Lullaby (Guernica Editions), is a fascinating poetic examination of musician, composer ...