darcie friesen hossack

This House is Old. A poem by John Ravenscroft

This House is Old When I was born – seems long ago – This house already knew that woe And joy are mixed by time’s slow flow. That mix (plus bricks) births quid pro quo A pact all ancient houses know… Old houses secrets keep, below Until a digger seeks to know AndContinue reading “This House is Old. A poem by John Ravenscroft”

Three poems by Anna Veprinska

Here, a clothesline, a slender horizontal pedestrian with a duty to dry, flapping its crooked teeth in the wind. Severe allergic reaction, a religion my skin succumbed to, worshipped as it swelled with its own saints: the body penned a book while I itched it. The book was titled, The Unbearable. Land perforatedContinue reading “Three poems by Anna Veprinska”

In Three Stanzas. Poetry by Dee Allen

IN THREE STANZAS I, too, am America, but… The exclusion From tomorrow, The dinner table Admits privileged company still, My colour continues To be a strike against me, Despite the claims of equality, The back door Is still the only entry point And the dinner guests See me more As far less ThanContinue reading “In Three Stanzas. Poetry by Dee Allen”

Places that have no names. A poem by Fauzia Rafique

Places that have no names places that have no names spring in my mind insisting that their existence is a fact irrefutable the places that have no names have people without faces floating in the after-death decay of ocean contamination the places that have no names with faceless people floating in theContinue reading “Places that have no names. A poem by Fauzia Rafique”

Thoughts on WordCity. By WordCity Poetry Editor Nancy Ndeke

WORDCITY An element of speech carries a word or words whether in mime, written or spoken. Best attribute of interpersonal relationships boosters or bolster’s. Taken and driven with a kindly gesture, ability to listen to hear before response or as acknowledgement of fellow humans, word is and has a creative force within it to makeContinue reading “Thoughts on WordCity. By WordCity Poetry Editor Nancy Ndeke”

Collected Poetry from the University of Guelph Creative Writing Program

Enriching Canadian Literature One Poem at a Timein the University of Guelph’s CourseENGL*4720 Creative Writing: Poetry, Fall 2020, Section: 01Diana Manole The fourth-year capstone course in Creative Writing Poetry at the University of Guelph’s School of English and Theatre Studies (SETS) has been one of the most rewarding, emotionally intense, and challenging courses I haveContinue reading “Collected Poetry from the University of Guelph Creative Writing Program”

Literary Spotlight and Writing Advice with Sue Burge

In this month’s literary spotlight I’m very excited to chat to Jennifer Wong. Jennifer was born and grew up in Hong Kong and is now living in the UK. She’s a writer, translator and educator with an MA in creative writing from the University of East Anglia as well as a PhD in creative writingContinue reading “Literary Spotlight and Writing Advice with Sue Burge”

Between Stolen Glances. A book review by Prof Rahman Shaari

SPECIALISED STYLES OF SITI RUQAIYAH HASHIM An effective poem is a poem that drives readers to see or figure out things from different angles. This condition is a definition of a poem, which is foreign and different from familiar ones. This definition, in addition to stating the secrecy aspect, is rarely mentioned in poetry discussions.Continue reading “Between Stolen Glances. A book review by Prof Rahman Shaari”

Two book-related essays. By Gordon Phinn

Two book-related essays by Gordon Phinn from his recently published book It’s All About Me: How Criticism Mirrors The Self BOOK: Another Day Of Life by Ryszard Kapuskinski The day I began to compose myself in order to write this review, the author’s introduction reminded me that the war in Angola has been grinding onContinue reading “Two book-related essays. By Gordon Phinn”

Who Will Save Batman? Non-fiction by Katia Kapovich

Who Will Save Batman? (Translated from the Russian by Philip Nikolayev) There is a yard in Cambridge bordered by a brick hospital wall, a side street, and a large parking lot. It lies adjacent to Somerville, but there is nothing symbolic about this fact, since the two towns are barely distinguishable. The green street signsContinue reading “Who Will Save Batman? Non-fiction by Katia Kapovich”