March 23, 2007
The Sorcery of the World
I had the pleasure of attending Patrick Friesen's latest book launch for Earth's Crude Gravities, a collection of poems.It was held at our friend's house high on the mountainside in Abbotsford, which proved to be the perfect location. The sound of the rushing creek, the natural setting, the beautiful concrete home with its large windows overlooking the valley, all contributed to the mood in many ways, and perhaps even a theme: the returning to what is natural, the eclipsing of the divine.
While I am primarily a prose reader, I feel a keen connection with Patrick's work, possibly due to our similar upbringings. Both of us come from strict, religious backgrounds, namely Mennonite (although I am not Mennonite by blood) which has cultured a lot of how and what we write today. Patrick's latest collection moves further into his abandonment of such religious ties. The poems are wrathful at times, affectionate at others. The imagery is visceral, the sentiment honest and sincere.
I feel an emotional connection to what he writes, a bonding with the resentment and refusal, but yet an appreciation for the meaning within the moments.
Click on the links to order the book, which is not expensive. Amazon has it, or you can order it through Patrick's website as well. You won't be disappointed. Those of you who do buy it, feel free to respond here. Always nice to learn what others thought.
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2 comments:
In “Earth's Crude Gravities” Patrick Friesen is more resolute than ever, here we find many outstanding concise poems as “I could have remained a worker”, “seasickness” and “body of my death” which in an emblematic way put common human experiences into words – but also a lot of fully developed songs with this long breath so characteristic for Friesen’s poetry, “nothing but what’s there”! You can almost hear the poets deep Canadian voice singing in your inner ear.
It sings all the way trough the book, line by line it sings. And a lot of fine one-liners like: “what a shock to find no virgins at the end of things”. The poems move from this dark “animal cries” in the first poem to the clarified mood of spirit in the end. All the way we are lead by resolute energy and a hilarious dark humour.
Mr. Hav,
Definitely a pleasure to have you leave a post here. I think what you have to say about Patrick's poetry is spot on. And your poem, Women of Copenhagen is an absolute gem.
Thank you for visiting.
Harry
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