---
title: "Celebrate National Poetry Month"
description: "April is national poetry month and I thought that I'd celebrate by re-reading some of the poetry collections on my shelves. Excerpt: \"at night cooley listens\" published in Sunfall by Dennis Cooley..."
url: https://somisguided.com/2013/04/08/celebrate-national-poetry-month/
date: 2013-04-08
modified: 2013-04-08
author: "Monique"
categories: ["News: Arts & Entertainment"]
type: post
lang: en
---

# Celebrate National Poetry Month

April is national poetry month and I thought that I’d celebrate by re-reading some of the poetry collections on my shelves.

**Excerpt: “at night cooley listens” published in *Sunfall* by Dennis Cooley (Anansi, 978-0-88784-580-2)**

at night cooley listens to his body

an answering service he bends over now

          the day’s over the day’s messages

the rest of the day he does not listen

does not pay it much attention, his neglect shameful

cooley knows he shld do better shld take it out more often

          show it a little more affection

once the noise of the day drops like shoes untied away

every night when the tired switch clicks night on

the body becomes importunate spouse

it’s about time you listened to me

you self-centred bastard the body says you barely listen

the body rehearses a long list of grievances, sniffling

                        there are violins

Dennis Cooley is one of my all-time favourite poets. I find his poems to be flamboyant and a little crazy. Some of them are incredibly heartfelt, while others use tone and timing to turn otherwise casual observations into challenges or wisecracks. He’s the only poet I keep coming back to. Others I enjoy and soon forget whereas I’ll eagerly read, and re-read, Cooley. This poem in particular makes me giddy in the same way that episodes of Seinfeld do.

**Excerpt: “Wolf Tree” by Alison Calder published in *Wolf Tree* (Coteau Books: 978-1-55050-359-3)**

The wolf tree’s arms reach out

in a question that is also an answer,

as we seek another name for what we have.

The tree embraces us in its branches,

holds the buds of our tender dreams.

What happened, it says, what happened

to the farm grown over, the buildings

sagging into slope-shouldered grayness.

The wild comes back, as lilacs

explode over the woodshed,

irises and roses bloom beside

decaying doors.

Alison Calder’s whole collection of poems is wonderful to read, in particular because each poem offers a wonderful balance of dream and reality. I also like her poems because many are set on the prairies. Calder grew up in Saskatoon and I first met her at the University of Manitoba where she was teaching CanLit and creative writing. I’ve admired her work ever since and perhaps became a fan of prairie poets because of her and Dennis Cooley, along with David Arnason, Robert Kroetsch and newer poets like Alexis Kienlen. I enjoyed the “bee” poems in her recent collection *13*.

**Poem: “The Home Inspection” by Jamie Sharpe published in *Animal Husbandry Today* (ECW, 978-1-177041-106-7)**

Before I even step

into this house

let me point out

something about

the foliage

Those leaves on

that there bush

were new in spring;

given it’s late July

I’d say they have

two months tops.

I doubt they’re

under warranty.

Jamie Sharpe is new to me, and I appreciate that he sent me a copy of this collection of poems because I’ve been enjoying exploring it. Like the poems above, Sharpe’s poems are accessible while still being lyrical. It’s a great collection.

What poems strike your fancy? If you’re keen to share, consider checking out the poetry contest on [49thShelf.com](http://49thshelf.com) for a chance to win a prize package of new Canadian poetry.