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! The Powwow at the End of the World Sherman Alexie slams the environmental destruction of settler-colonialism as we travel on an upstream course towards the powwow at the end of the world. How Not to Spill Do you hold your hands shut, or do you let everything spill out? Community Garden Seeking to escape internet trolls the speaker turns her eye to the garden Low Tide on Grand Pré The setting sun gives rise to a treasured memory of Grand Pré in this somber, rhythmic poem. Before the Birth of One of Her Children This frank, devout poem confronts the risks facing a 17th-century woman in childbirth. Declaration of Intent Rita Wong invokes the "sacred bond" of water in this poem that invites us to learn from watersheds, and to act in their defense. The Lonely Land In this free verse poem, snapshots of a wild landscape show that beauty and conflict are not mutually exclusive — and that one may be derived from the other. For My Best Friend One way to grieve is to give tribute, perhaps even before the person you are grieving is completely gone. Full Metal Oji-Cree That’s ok, our robomocassins will outlive you nine times over. 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. I Am The speaker longs to escape himself and to find freedom from within and without Dinosaur Economics In this poem, playful romanticization meets a stark awakening The Blue Guitar In this glosa poem, P.K. Page strums out questions about being an artist and telling the truth. aubade for the BPD subreddit user who wrote can people with BPD love? The stunningly cruel comments of an internet forum reverberate throughout a sleepless night From Correspondences Anne Michaels challenges us to find new maps to think about old experiences. A Breakfast for Barbarians Come sit at this mythical table where guests eat the world’s mysteries for breakfast. Death of a Young Son by Drowning Blurring time but clarifying feeling, this poem gives voice to a mother who loses a son and gains a country. 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. dont worry yr hair Having a bad day? This uplifting poem about the power of our inner potential should light a spark. I Am The speaker longs to escape himself and to find freedom from within and without The New Experience Join the speaker on a whirlwind journey towards a surprising realization. Not the Music In Not in the Music, Crozier explores the inviolable: the sacred parts of ourselves that we cherish as personal sanctuaries. The Days of the Unicorns Phyllis Webb beautifully writes an ode to the majestic unicorn. Two Words: A Wedding bpNichol presents life as a river of ever-changing words and asks us to step in. Where There’s a Wall Both beauty and violence are just on the other side of the wall. Sometimes a Voice (1) On a hot summer afternoon, Danny jumped off the boathouse roof without thinking of the consequences. “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? the ghosts of women once girls Poet Aja Monet reveals both gladness and sadness from a little girl enraptured by literature. Picking Up a Dandelion A short and poignant poem, stretching out a brief moment of beauty. My Poem Without Me in It Imagining herself removed from her own poem, a poet realizes how poetry gives her the space to create herself. sturgeon Intense with empathy, the poem places poet and struggling fish in direct physical relation. fluorine Rita Wong uncovers the poisons in everyday life to teach us about our relationship to the natural world. 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 knowing Connie Fife cryptically combines land and body in this poem exploring connection to place and past. Two Words: A Wedding bpNichol presents life as a river of ever-changing words and asks us to step in. The Fish A dreamy poem diving into oceanic imagery, exploring time and change. The Powwow at the End of the World Sherman Alexie slams the environmental destruction of settler-colonialism as we travel on an upstream course towards the powwow at the end of the world. The New Experience Join the speaker on a whirlwind journey towards a surprising realization. I’ve Tasted My Blood In this thunderous poem, the speaker proclaims his rage, anguish, and hope in the face of war and oppression. Pagination 1 2 3 4 5 6 Next › Next page Last » Last page Language English