Category Archives: Poetry

Carinal Point

Posted on August 24, 2014 by Francois Lachance

Soraya Peerbaye Poems for the Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names “Armonica” My first reading was arrested by the term “carinal” as the poet describes how “he tucks the instrument” in his palm           it disappears like a blade of grass … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry | Leave a comment

A Breakable Vessel

Posted on August 18, 2014 by Francois Lachance

“Human Bodies” by Yehuda Amichai Paris Review Issue no. 122 (Spring 1992) Do not give me your soul, Give me your body I shall never know to the end, Give me the vessel, not the wine. Which reminds me of … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry | Leave a comment

Pencil Poetry

Posted on August 10, 2014 by Francois Lachance

R.H. Lola Koundakjian The Moon in the Cusp of My Hand “You Can Tell Me Anything” opens with an invitation to play a game of underlining and marginalia. borrow my poetry books, underline favourite words with a pencil; It is … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry | Leave a comment

A Wash A Wave

Posted on August 9, 2014 by Francois Lachance

Paris Review Interview Carl Phillips, The Art of Poetry No. 103 Issue no. 228 (Spring 2019) I tell people, especially if I’m giving a reading, it’s okay to let the words wash over them, the way one experiences abstract art. … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry | Leave a comment

Intercession Deserves Its Own Verb Form

Posted on August 2, 2014 by Francois Lachance

Northrop Frye on Sir James Frazer in Architects of Modern Thought: 12 talks for CBC Radio A ritual, in magic, is done for practical purposes, to make the crops grow, to baffle enemies, to bring rain or sunshine or children. … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry | Tagged | Leave a comment

Leander Echoed Pearls

Posted on July 30, 2014 by Francois Lachance

James Schuyler “A Blue Towel” Hymn to Life […] I saw your chest and side be- side me, pearled with water drops. […] Note the spilt word and enjambement I recalled something from my undergraduate days at Queen’s (Kingston). Here … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry | Leave a comment

For the Kid-at-Heart Who Banged Her Head

Posted on July 26, 2014 by Francois Lachance

Dear W., I hope all is well with the concussion recuperation. As you know I have been concentrating on one sensory modality per week for the last little while. I meant to get the proprioception one out earlier — got … Continue reading →

Posted in Perception, Poetry | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Reduplications Reduplicated

Posted on July 25, 2014 by Francois Lachance

Andrea Cohen Nightshade p. 25 “Blizzard” [opening] All night plows plow. Snows snow. Lovers somewhere somehow love. Reminds me of Émile Nelligan “Soir d’hiver” which begins: Ah! comme la neige a neigé ! Ma vitre est un jardin de givre. … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry, Translations | Leave a comment

Sympathy Strikes

Posted on July 20, 2014 by Francois Lachance

Andrea Cohen meets Ricardo Sternberg on the picket line… Opening and closing stanzas (but equal gateways) to “Let Me Die in Madrid” in Furs Not Mine by Andrea Cohen: Let me die in Madrid when the grave diggers are on … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry | Leave a comment

Eanh

Posted on July 10, 2014 by Francois Lachance

First spotted in The Paris Review “Periodic Table of Ethereal Elements” by Lucie Brock-Broido Issue no. 154 (Spring 2000) Eanhward Some kind of autocorrect artefact? Searched and found from contexts it would be a common form of spelling “earthward” Sounds … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry | Leave a comment