Reflections on an Ottawa Spring
bout de papier, Vol. 8, No. 3 (1991) — Summer 1991 // Été 1991, p. 39 by Terry Jones “When winter comes can Spring be far behind”.Yes, if you live in Ottawawhere winter lasts November until May.Spring, the stuff of poesie and daydreams,of “blossomed pear tree in the hedge” and thyme,of “chaffinch singing in the […]
Wot, me worry!
bout de papier, Vol. 8, No. 2 (1991) — Spring 1991 // Printemps 1991, p. 35 Terry Jones The conversation beside me was very intense.Sipping their cafeteria-swill coffeevoices low, leaning forward, brows furrowedthey talked of increasing tension, worry, stress.“Do you feel it too?” I heard one ask.God yes! I wanted to shout, I worry:will my […]
The West to the Rescue
bout de papier, Vol. 8, No. 2 (1991) — Spring 1991 // Printemps 1991, p. 35 On May 16, 1990, the President of Lithuania, Vytautus Landsbergus, said:“The west never promised us anything… We could only think that everything theWest has said had some foundation: that the principles and faith in humanity,democracy, people and nations’ rights […]
Sonnet 435
bout de papier, Vol. 8, No. 1 (1990), p. 39 by Sam Hanson A dry and dusty, bright and sunburnt landLast year was host to the United Nations.They’d come, they said, to take the place in hand:In freedom’s cause, with numbrous delegations.Others briefly came, and then complained:“The BOERS keep these simple folk in thrall!”The PEOPLE, […]
Boxing Day, 1989
* Dedicated to André Bissonnette, Esmond Butler, and Frank Stone.
A Despairing Cry From the Permanent Middle
bout de papier, Vol. 7, No. 4 (1990), p. 37 by Faux Nash I would have preferred to have given this poema portentous title out of some learned tomelike “An Analytical Appraise”or “A Mandarin’s Malaise”Oh. You thought I was writing about my girth,My “Permanent Middle” being a keen source of mirth.But no. I write on […]
An Officer’s Best Friend
bout de papier, Vol. 7, No. 3 (1990), p. 15 “User friendly” they said, “Menu Driven.Just follow instructions. Hit any key.Before you know, it’s indispensible.”Hard to recognize my IBM clonecomputer in that glowing sales pitch, asI sit here at night with the screen gone blankexcept for one *! message flashing forth;ERROR. FORMATTED FOR DEFAULT PRINTERBloody […]
Fall Haiku
Anonymous
Life Abroad
bout de papier, Vol. 7, No. 1 (1989), p. 33 “Who are you?” he screamedthrusting the rifle into my face.I had often imaginedjust such an occasion.“Stand aside my man” I would saycooly brushing dust from my immaculate lapels“Canadian High Commission;”and of coursehe would stand aside, humbly muttering an apology.Instead I heard a small voice sayvery […]
Untitled by MAC
bout de papier, Vol. 6, No. 4 (1989), p. 36 Have you ever met a Yuppie* who admits to it?ever met a yuppie whom you liked?Are the values they reflectthose we feel we must rejectas representing Mammon and the like?*Yuppie — Young upwardlymobile professionalDo you count among acquaintances a Dink* or two?know any you would […]
