The Intent, or Weight of the World

by Roo Borson

Book by Borson, Roo

Genres: Poetry

119 pages, Paperback

First published February 25, 1989

About the author

Ruth Elizabeth Borson, who writes under the name Roo Borson (born 20 January 1952 in Berkeley, California) is a Canadian poet who lives in Toronto. She is a graduate of the University of British Columbia.

She has received many awards for her work, including the Governor General's Literary Award, 2004, and the Griffin Poetry Prize, 2005 for Short Journey Upriver Toward Oishida. She lives in Toronto with poet Kim Maltman, and with Maltman and Andy Patton is a member of the collaborative performance poetry ensemble Pain Not Bread.

Reviews

[Steven Godin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing prepares us for it,
no memorizing of lists, numbers,
past events - no geometrician,
chemist, cubist, farmer
can subtract a hairsbreadth
from our ignorance.
Astronomy is mute,
economics and the law are mute (not to mention
the plumber, the butcher, the gardener).
In the face of it theology is a padded room;
there is no study, whim, invention,
no field of enquiry - and, once there,
no addendum, no redness,
no bargain struck with god,
no god.
And this first step, misguided, careless,
finding one must begin again! - this first step
makes us ache to go on from there -
but there are no more steps to be taken,
no legs, or hands, or feet,
no walls,
no shoes.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Canadian poet - consistent, wonderful: listen to this phrase:
Small perfumed pears grow here,
numerous, and hidden as birds' eggs in June.
Small perfumed pears, and half-wild plums.
I'm as far as ever from what I love...

and this:
Around the houses for miles, in a century
of usual delusions, history - this waterfall of rain...

and:
...save us from nightmares,
from other worlds,
from the mute, immobile contours
of dressers and shoes,
from another measureless day, save us.