Ariel Gordon's Blog, page 99

Monday's Poem

A slightly more refined version of my poem Primipara is up on Leaf Press' website as this week's Monday's Poem.

And when I say slightly more refined, I mean in terms of the shape/size of the poem and not the content.

Because it's still pretty bad. Heh.

(Leaf Publisher Ursula Vaira sent what, to my mind, is the best acceptance ever: "Some poem!")

(The other thing worth remarking on is the fact that I've used the second of the sketches poet/artist Heather Spears did of me at the recent LCP conferen...

On the beach

* * *

On the stump halfway along the rock wall that lines the beach at Clearwater, MB.

On the road

All photos Riding Mountain National Park, MB. July long weekend, 2010.

* * *

We drove into/among the herd in the Bison Enclosure at Riding Mountain National Park on Friday.

Since we were creeping forward inches at a time, we let the girls stand with their heads out the window like the small yappy dogs they sometimes resemble.

It was fun to watch them and then to watch the caramel calves - or infant bison - weave in and out of the herd that moved from a rainy morning in the meadow to a hot after...

Reprint: Giving birth to babies and books

Local writer Ariel Gordon discusses her new poetry collection, Hump
by Kristy Hoffman (Volunteer)

June 29th 2010 edition of the Uniter

Love, nature, the city and being knocked up are all central themes in the poetry comprising Hump, a collection by Winnipeg writer Ariel Gordon.

Mindfully crafted with language that is simple and engaging, it is the first full book of poetry the 37-year-old has published. It is preceded only by two chapbooks: 2008's The Navel Gaze and 2009's Guidelines: Malaysia & ...

Hump-day: the slideshow

* * *

So three things are wrong with this video and/or me:

1) I completely overused the word "lovely." How COMPLETELY un-lovely.

2) I called poet/publisher Dawn Kresan "my publicist." But that was mostly because Perry Grosshans, who she sat beside at the event, posted something rambly to HIS blog talking about how he'd sat next to "Palimpest's publicist." Which was wrong and which I mocked him for...and then replicated in this video.

Sigh.

3) I wasn't ambitious enough to re-record the audio track ...

Speaking of Speaking of Poets

Fellow Winnipeg poet Lori Cayer and I had a stint on campus/community radio station CKUW yesterday. Or, more properly, we pre-recorded our segment for later broadcast.

Since Lori and I were to share a mic, Lori had to stand on a step-stool, which we sourced from the CKUW offices.

I didn't tell anyone, but the radio station's offices were once The Uniter's offices, where I spent four or five years while at the U of Wpg.

The format of Speaking of Poets, the show we were guests on, was that we eac...

Debut collection polished, properly incomplete

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Reviewed by: Ariel Gordon

TO borrow from the patter of real-estate television, Melanie Siebert's debut ticks all the boxes.

Deepwater Vee (McClelland & Stewart, 96 pages, $19) is polished and also properly incomplete, euphoric in its use of language but also at the same time elegiac.

The Victoria-based poet surveys Canada's northern rivers, and her poems are full of the jargon of back-country campers and whitewater enthusiasts on the one hand and of resource ex...

Hands on: Michael Van Rooy

* * *

The timing of this edition of the Hands on Project is very neatly tied to the launch of his third book of crime-fic tonight. Which I intend to be at.

When I corralled Michael, he promptly turned around and grabbed his ass.

And then, re-considering, pulled this knife from his pocket. Which he apparently carries around with him everywhere.

He says he's earned his hands.

* * *

Michael Van Rooy was born in Kamloops, BC. He has worked as a restaurant manager, bartender, fishing guide, card dealer...

Water water water water water

Time weighs on him like wet clothes
as he wades into the current
of conversation
as he stands over her
tugs
at her arm
so this can be something asked
and answered instead of only the running
monologue of disease


water water water water water

that's all there is

he says

I know

she says


Friends and family visit and revisit
the question with raised eyebrows but don't ask
because it is easier to make our way down
to the heaving dock with its cross currents
and cross purposes and watch as rocks
break free of wave...

Primipara

"A woman who is pregnant for the first time or who has borne just one child." – Webster's New World Dictionary.

If I had had twins, I would have eaten one,
like a smart-assed rabbit only
half-convinced the grass was gone.

If I had had twins, I would have cracked
a beatific smile. "Thanks,"
"but no." And primly given it/them back.

If I had had twins, I would have tucked
them under my arms like footballs or small perfect
hand-grenades aimed at my breasts: fuck.

If I had had twins, I would have moth...