These poems each have a set of guided questions, related videos that allow for deeper investigation, and suggested writing activities. We'll be adding more poems here soon! One Art When loss feels inevitable, sometimes the only thing to do is write it down… The Fish A dreamy poem diving into oceanic imagery, exploring time and change. the knowing Connie Fife cryptically combines land and body in this poem exploring connection to place and past. Picking Up a Dandelion A short and poignant poem, stretching out a brief moment of beauty. Thou Poem A poet reveals the happiest and unhappiest parts of their poetry – in conversation with a poem. I’ve Tasted My Blood In this thunderous poem, the speaker proclaims his rage, anguish, and hope in the face of war and oppression. Pale Blue Cover In this nostalgic poem, the speaker reminisces about the author Matt Cohen. The Trick The body and the mind are intimately linked and cannot be divorced from each other. Letters In this tender poem tracing a lost love, the speaker holds on by letting things go… In Flanders Fields The dead summon us to action in this much-beloved poem of war. Where There’s a Wall Both beauty and violence are just on the other side of the wall. Community Garden Seeking to escape internet trolls the speaker turns her eye to the garden Reluctance Even after you’ve jumped all the fences, climbed all the hills, and looked at the world, it can be hard to accept how you feel… Last Visit This poem invites you to discover the forms that outrage can take. I’ll Teach You Cree By sharing with us the untranslatable aspects of Cree culture, Scofield immerses the reader with the sensorial experiences that deepen the bonds of community. Passing into Storm Through an objective lens, this poem, which could be a trailer for a horror movie, describes a white man deliberately walking into a snow storm. To what end? In Exile I Draw the Tower Card A poem that explores the loss of taken-for-granted abilities that lead to existential questions about oneself. Guanahani, 11 This bracing ballad (re)considers the beauty and history of the Caribbean island where Christopher Columbus first landed. Tide Both stark and tender, this poem is about Reena Virk, a BC teen of South Asian descent who was assaulted and murdered by her peers in 1997. Vancouver Lights This wartime poem looks out at Vancouver’s nighttime skyline and contemplates humanity. Yellowjacket “Yellowjacket” explores the eerie way the dead make themselves at home in our lives. Insomnia A dark, playful twist on what someone would do if they could only sleep… A Breakfast for Barbarians Come sit at this mythical table where guests eat the world’s mysteries for breakfast. Sonoma A dreamlike sense of the uncanny hangs over this poem of an encounter on a coastal highway. from Cross River . Pick Lotus Sometimes a simple wish granted, especially a final one, can change everything. Cold Solace Even after many months in the freezer, a honey cake calls up strong memories. Radishes Ange Mlinko’s consideration of the radish introduces a constellation of characters and feelings, inviting reflection on nostalgia and the passing of time. a good day The poet recalls the day she heard her father would die. A Breakfast for Barbarians Come sit at this mythical table where guests eat the world’s mysteries for breakfast. A Stone Diary A love poem to a stone takes on deeper, rockier meanings. The Fatigue Fatigue is often the first sign something is wrong with one's body. Fatigue looms larger than life in this poem which grapples with meds, family, and coping. Fear of Snakes The life of a snake and the memory of girlhood trauma are told in sinuously entwined language. Community Garden Seeking to escape internet trolls the speaker turns her eye to the garden Let the Ponies Out In this poem, a dramatic monologue, the speaker implores their father to do something both real and more real in its imagining. Journey of the Magi One of the three wise men who travelled to Bethlehem upon the birth of Jesus Christ describes his version of the story and the emotional upheaval he experiences from witnessing a miracle that shatters his previous beliefs and way of life. Autobiography of My Hungers A poem that explores private desire and longing, and the pain of homophobia. My Grandmother Washes Her Feet in the Sink of the Bathroom at Sears A clash of cultures in a department store bathroom showcases pride and power in the towns matrons as well as the space in the middle where the speaker lives Dinosaur Economics In this poem, playful romanticization meets a stark awakening i am graffiti This poem vibrates with anger and defiance in the wake of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. I Lost My Talk How can you speak your deepest truth in a language that doesn’t understand you? Pagination 1 2 3 4 5 6 Next › Next page Last » Last page Language English