Description
Book SynopsisIntroduces the reader to the lyric power and political urgency of the poetry of Di Brandt, providing an overview of her poetry written during a prolific and revolutionary twenty-year period.
Trade Review``The quest for a wider audience for poetry may be quixotic, but this series makes a serious attempt to present attractive, affordable selections that speak to contemporary interests and topics that might engage a younger generation of readers. Yet it does not condescend, preferring to provide substantial and sophisticated poets to these new readers. At the very least, these slim volumes will make very useful introductory teaching texts in post-secondary classrooms because they whet the appetite without overwhelming.'' -- Paul Milton -- Canadian Literature, 193, Summer 2007, 201003
``The introductions and afterwords, if done properly, can help the first-time reader to contextualize and grapple with the imaginative and intellectual material they are about to encounter. These essays can be invaluable in helping the new reader to get a broad enough sense of the poet in question to be able to read the poems from a slightly more informed perspective.'' (about the Laurier Poetry series) ``I found MacDonald's introduction to Speaking of Power: The Poetry of Di Brandt to be very illuminating. Her research was impeccable, and well-suited to the fiery, furious, rebellious poetry it sets up. MacDonald deftly summarizes the arc of Brandt's intense career, emphasizing her (Brandt's) belief that `poetry must be, at its core, concerned with the political power of language' (ix), as well as her decidedly feminist and radically spiritual ecopoetics.... In her afterword, Brandt rais[es] the question, are we, as a society, simply too comfortable to be disturbed by poetry's insistent voice? Too well-fed? When will we care? asks Brandt....Her afterword is both emotionally and intellectually stimulating....Here is poetry (and a poet) with a vision....Can I get a `hell yeah'? And a `hell yeah' for MacDonald too....Poetry like Brandt's...deserves the larger audience WLUP is attempting to win for it. I am crossing my fingers, and hoping that it succeeds.'' -- Jennifer Houle -- PoetryReviews, September 2006, 200610
``The books are fairly slim (ranging from fifty-six to eighty pages), but each provides a decent outline of the respective poet's career, style, and dominant concerns. The introductory essays are straightforward and informative--they provide a useful interpretive framework for anyone coming to this poetry for the first time. These volumes seem designed for students and educators; each offers a more complete picture of the poet than one would get from an anthology.'' -- University of Toronto Quarterly, Letters in Canada 2006, Volume 77, Number 1, Winter 2008, 200807
Table of ContentsTable of Contents for Speaking of Power: The Poetry of Di Brandt , selected with an introduction by Tanis MacDonald Foreword | Neil Besner Biographical Note Introduction | Tanis MacDonald when i was five but what do you think my father says say to yourself each time my mother found herself one late summer missionary position (1) missionary position (5) mother why didnt you tell me this you prepare a banquet in your mind since we cannot meet on father ground nonresistance, or love Mennonite style prairie hymn why she canât write the mother let me tell you, dear reader completely seduced what de Englische the letters i wrote & didnât poem for a guy whoâs death is a good argument today i spit out God & Jesus & it amuses us to think Jerusalem, the golden, city of my dreams there are no words in me for Gaza how long does it take to forget a murder here, in the desert how badly she wants peace Zone: âª|le Détroit> 1 Zone: âª|le Détroit> 2 Here at the heart of the ravaged heart Dog days in Maribor: Anti (electric) ghazals Not ungrateful for the attempt at proper Afterword: You pray for the rare flower to appear | Di Brandt Acknowledgements
