Category Archives: Poetry

Illusive Allusions

Posted on February 15, 2011 by Francois Lachance

The intertextual is not merely interstitial. It sometimes runs interference. I like the central image in Rhea Tregebov “Vienna, November 1983” in no one we know and how it connects with the haunting mention at the close of the poem … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Sunlight buttered on the grass.

Posted on February 14, 2011 by Francois Lachance

In a poem where the speaker repeatedly mentions an inability to remember the names of things, there comes this splendid evocation of roses that turns for all its colour and specificity upon the mention of names. Do the roses bloom? … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry | Leave a comment

Radish Pyrotechnics

Posted on February 13, 2011 by Francois Lachance

Rhea Tregebov. “The fire under control” in no one we know. This is a poem that begins with the collection and consumption of vegetables (such as peppers and rhubarb and of course radishes) and moves on to consider fire that … Continue reading →

Posted in Food Writing, Poetry | Leave a comment

Waiting

Posted on February 12, 2011 by Francois Lachance

A line from Tu Fu (translated by J.P. Seaton in Bright Moon Perching Bird) Wind, and dust, but no news comes. Reminds one of “Waiting for the Barbarians” by Cavafy. Not because of the wind. Not because of the dust. … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry | Tagged | Leave a comment

Anaphora

Posted on February 11, 2011 by Francois Lachance

I was debating whether to buy this handsome edition of the Collected Poems of Stephen Spender in its red jacket. In the time-honoured tradition of the browser, I opened the volume and read “The War God” which begins with the … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry | Leave a comment

Acrostic Beginning with the Letter F

Posted on February 10, 2011 by Francois Lachance

Autumn : an alphabet acrostic by Steven Schnur, illustrated by Leslie Evans From the window the Rows of Orange pumpkins Seem clothed in Thin white shawls. There is a nice description of the book in the front matter on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry | Tagged | Leave a comment

Before Rock Musicians Smashed Guitars

Posted on February 9, 2011 by Francois Lachance

Yosano Akiko (1878-1942) River of Stars: Selected Poems of Yosano Akiko translated by Sam Hamill and Keiko Matsui Gibson. The gods wish it so: a life ends with a shatter — with my great broadax I demolish my koto. Oh, … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry, Translations | Leave a comment

Frottage Fancy

Posted on February 7, 2011 by Francois Lachance

Frank Kermode Forms of Attention led me to be acquainted with a Donne poem that I had not studied in school and if I had it might have been recuperated in workings of allegory as Kermode reports “Attempts were made … Continue reading →

Posted in Introductions, Poetry | Leave a comment

After Forethought

Posted on January 28, 2011 by Francois Lachance

I have characterized the poetry of James Schuyler as being in tune with the moment that comes almost like an afterthought but on retrospect appears as premeditated. Consider the end of a poem to artist Anne Dunn on her name … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry | Leave a comment

From Inside the Asylum

Posted on January 27, 2011 by Francois Lachance

From the Payne Whitney poems, the ending to “February 13, 1975”. A sort of weather report. yet. I wish one could press snowflakes in a book like flowers. James Schuyler New York Review of Books, August 17, 1978 And so … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry | Leave a comment