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These are not the potatoes of my youth
You let him channel his inner amphibian
up to his brainstem, a floating head of metamorphosis,
and dives to where the water is mostly leeches, yet he recovers
your shoes that you were sure had died, an old vacuum, a '64 dime.
He is your father for a day
at the river, who leaves when the flowers close, when bees goback to their honeycombs. He drinks, gargles
in the bathroom, his practice of ranges, vocals and your father floats
out, he's laughing that he's actually touched bottom.
In this confessional debut collection, Matthew Walsh meanders through his childhood in rural Nova Scotia, later roaming across the prairies and through the railway caf's of Alberta to the love letters and graffiti of Vancouver. In this nomadic journey, he explores queer identity set against an ever-changing landscape of what we want, and who we are, were, and came to be.
Walsh is a storyteller in verse, his poems laced with catholic "sensibilities" and punctuated with Maritime vernacular. In These Are Not the Potatoes of my Youth, he illuminates the complex choreography of family, the anxiety of individuality, and the ambiguous histories of stories erased, forgotten, or suppressed. Readers will find moments of humour, surprise, and a queer realization that all is not what it seems.
up to his brainstem, a floating head of metamorphosis,
and dives to where the water is mostly leeches, yet he recovers
your shoes that you were sure had died, an old vacuum, a '64 dime.
He is your father for a day
at the river, who leaves when the flowers close, when bees goback to their honeycombs. He drinks, gargles
in the bathroom, his practice of ranges, vocals and your father floats
out, he's laughing that he's actually touched bottom.
In this confessional debut collection, Matthew Walsh meanders through his childhood in rural Nova Scotia, later roaming across the prairies and through the railway caf's of Alberta to the love letters and graffiti of Vancouver. In this nomadic journey, he explores queer identity set against an ever-changing landscape of what we want, and who we are, were, and came to be.
Walsh is a storyteller in verse, his poems laced with catholic "sensibilities" and punctuated with Maritime vernacular. In These Are Not the Potatoes of my Youth, he illuminates the complex choreography of family, the anxiety of individuality, and the ambiguous histories of stories erased, forgotten, or suppressed. Readers will find moments of humour, surprise, and a queer realization that all is not what it seems.
- GenresPoetry
92 pages, Paperback
Published March 12, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 19, 2021
Poetry is quite a personal preference but I liked the depth and reality of this author’s poetry while also maintaining a sense of humour.
While telling the author’s personal journey of growth and life, I found some similarities and nostalgia from shared experiences growing up, whether it be the mention of a MuchMusic dance or the Bluenotes clothing.
One of the most profound lines that hit me the deepest was early in the collection when a fortune from a fortune cookie was found detailing, “two days from now tomorrow will be yesterday”. It really put into words (and perspective) how fast life can go.
The poetry in this collection sometimes can be dark in content but is smooth in its ease of reading. I found myself reading through this collection fully and then going back to reread some of my favourites.
***Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this collection in exchange for an honest review***
While telling the author’s personal journey of growth and life, I found some similarities and nostalgia from shared experiences growing up, whether it be the mention of a MuchMusic dance or the Bluenotes clothing.
One of the most profound lines that hit me the deepest was early in the collection when a fortune from a fortune cookie was found detailing, “two days from now tomorrow will be yesterday”. It really put into words (and perspective) how fast life can go.
The poetry in this collection sometimes can be dark in content but is smooth in its ease of reading. I found myself reading through this collection fully and then going back to reread some of my favourites.
***Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this collection in exchange for an honest review***
July 25, 2019
Queer Nova Scotia poetry. Vulnerable explorations of family.
This collection is wonderful.
This collection is wonderful.
November 17, 2021
An excellent and super relatable collection of weird and wonderful poetry!
May 2, 2021
A strong and exciting debut collection.
January 9, 2020
This book radiates beauty.
Walsh is a cosmic poet and the poems they have written for this book are instantly some of my favourites.
Page after page is awash with startling language and imagery. Walsh is able to pluck tenderness from even the sternest of subject matter, as they dissect the intricate details of topics such as family, love, gender roles, and even the mystical nature of potatoes.
More poems about He-Man and baseball please.
Walsh is a cosmic poet and the poems they have written for this book are instantly some of my favourites.
Page after page is awash with startling language and imagery. Walsh is able to pluck tenderness from even the sternest of subject matter, as they dissect the intricate details of topics such as family, love, gender roles, and even the mystical nature of potatoes.
More poems about He-Man and baseball please.
July 9, 2019
It seems improbable that a book of poetry can consistently surprise, but such is the case with Matthew Walsh’s debut collection, These are not the potatoes of my youth. Walsh’s is a voice of complete authenticity, one that is startling, open and bold. Whether they’re set in it Walsh’s adopted city of Vancouver or home province of Nova Scotia, these vital, necessary poems place an invigorating pressure on normative assumptions and perceptions about love, family, friendship, and the world. This is a book which will delight and move readers.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews