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! 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 Five Postcards from Jericho Postcards to regret, to time, to anyone at all 1992 Sometimes a scent or a site or a taste can sweep you up into the past. This finely honed narrative poem knows what that’s like. fluorine Rita Wong uncovers the poisons in everyday life to teach us about our relationship to the natural world. Famous In Famous, Naomi Nye speaks to the relationship between objects and the ideas they represent. She is as famous to the poem as the poem is famous its words. Homage to the Mineral of the Onion (I) Could a vegetable be the antidote to war? This poem thinks so. Laurentian Shield This portrait of a rocky, silent Canadian landscape speaks to the country’s limitations and its potential. These Poems, She Said Can an argument be the foundation of a love poem? Robert Bringhurst certainly thinks so! grass In his short, funny poem, Ward Maxwell asks us to step on the grass, saying “it deserves it.” But isn’t that the point of grass? Letters In this tender poem tracing a lost love, the speaker holds on by letting things go… I Have Something to Tell You In this surreal poem, a man made of cameras brings his unexpected concerns into sharper focus. sturgeon Intense with empathy, the poem places poet and struggling fish in direct physical relation. Editing the Prairie If the prairie was a written story, imagine the rejection letter it might get! Two Hours on the Train In this deceptively simple poem, a poet on a journey transcends time. La Belle Dame sans Merci: A Ballad What would you ask a knight if you found him alone and palely loitering along a barren path? Planet Earth P.K. Page sings the praises of planet earth through extended metaphor and delightful constraint. What Is Poetry Using only the letters in the title’s question, Holbrook generates a smorgasbord of weird and delightful answers. Beat! Beat! Drums! With rich bombastic language and Whitman's trademark sprawling lines, this poem rallies troops for war. “Breathe dust…” Nearly punctuation-free, this is a breathless journey through memories of a youth spent in rural Canada. grass In his short, funny poem, Ward Maxwell asks us to step on the grass, saying “it deserves it.” But isn’t that the point of grass? 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… Salmon Courage Deep bravery can emerge amid clashing familial hopes and truths. M. NourbeSe Philip shows us how. April 30, 2014 One spring day, dreading an afternoon appointment that will dredge up all kinds of terrible memories, the speaker of the poem focuses on the natural world around her. Thou Poem A poet reveals the happiest and unhappiest parts of their poetry – in conversation with a poem. Too Negative Have your friends’ parents ever warned them away from you because they thought you were a bad influence? “Too Negative” is a poem about that experience. The Tyger In the woods at night, the speaker talks to a magical animal… I Am The speaker longs to escape himself and to find freedom from within and without Echolalia Exploring the tension between desire and satisfaction, this is “a poem that you have to kiss your way through without being kissed,” says Williams. The New Experience Join the speaker on a whirlwind journey towards a surprising realization. Chemo Side Effects: Memory The stop-start, grasping form of this poem mirrors the speaker's struggle to reconcile herself with one of the side effects of cancer treatment. I saw a perfect tree today Lillian Allen praises the rampant diversity of trees in Northern Ontario and asks us to see perfection in difference. from Cross River . Pick Lotus Sometimes a simple wish granted, especially a final one, can change everything. The Tyger In the woods at night, the speaker talks to a magical animal… 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. niya A physical encounter with a stranger ignites a fire of emotions about how to express the trauma of settlement and life in a colonial, urban environment. From Correspondences Anne Michaels challenges us to find new maps to think about old experiences. Money A museum coin collection prompts a reflection on the captivating nature of currency. Fast Commute Laurie Graham weathers an incongruous ice storm in this poem-excerpt that asks us to pause and understand that we are present here, “and with this understanding to start to hear.” Full Metal Oji-Cree That’s ok, our robomocassins will outlive you nine times over. Common Magic Do you ever wonder how anything gets done when we’re all swirling in our own galaxies of thought and experience? This poem does too. Pagination « First First page ‹ Previous Previous page 1 2 3 4 5 6 Next › Next page Last » Last page Language English