I wrote a review for Catherine Chandler’s most recent book of poetry, Glad and Sorry Seasons (Biblioasis, 2014). You can go read my review over on the PRISM international website now; I hope it’ll make you want to pick up a copy and read Glad and Sorry Seasons, too! I love sonnets, so it should be no surprise that I found Chandler’s collection moving; she uses the sonnet form (not exclusively) in the book and speaks gracefully on pain, exhaustion, and longing, but also on love and joy.
Here’s a small excerpt from my review, which includes perhaps my favourite line in the whole book:
Chandler’s sense of longing and joy is particularly wonderful in ‘Sonnet Love’ (41) where her speaker says, ‘I love the way we’re called to referee / the mind-heart match-up in its scanty ring’ and concludes by observing ‘Life’s unpredictability defies / clean dénouement. I love the way it tries.’
Intrigued? Please go read the entire review over on PRISM international!
And if you haven’t read the short list for Arc‘s 2015 Poem of the Year contest yet, please consider doing so! For the next couple weeks, all shortlisted poems—including my poem “Lavinia“—are available to be read and voted on. Wouldn’t it be neat if your vote helped me win bragging rights and the Readers’ Choice Award?
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! I know today is supposed to be all about the colour green, but I am most excited that the first of my tulips revealed its bright purple today!
Ruth Daniell 