The Poets of External
External’s early archives yield such amazing gems! Readers of bout de papier may remember, for example, my yarn (in Vol. 5, No. 3) about the unbelievable correspondence in the middle of World War II between the Canadian Legation in Washington, ie. Mike…
The Curse
bout de papier, Vol. 6, No. 3 (1988), p. 40 Everyone’s looking olderexcept me.My eyes still flashwith brilliance;energy, excitement, both remain;passion as well.Blood that coursed and raged within my veinsstill flames as wildly —now and then.Children call me “Sir”nowshow respect.Hairline’s not recededall that much,and silver temples add distinction.Generous stomachevidence of frequent business lunchesadds importance“gravitas”.Image in […]
Spring in Fort Pearson
bout de papier, Vol. 6, No. 1 (1988) — Spring 1988 // Printemps 1988, p. 37 It may be true that Ottawa has buttwo seasons, winter and July. But Springdoes come each year to Pearson’s fort. I knowfor I have read the subtle signs. In Springa young man’s fancy turns to thoughts of posts,the middle […]
Mesa: To “Genarians”
bout de papier, Vol. 5, No. 4 (1988) — Winter 1988 // Hiver 1988, p. 43 I bethought me on account of all of us:Three score and some may be late middle age,But “over the hill” it definitely is not!Even the hill that is legally prescribed,At an arbitrary age of three score and five,Is only […]
Commuting in Ottawa
bout de papier, Vol. 5, No. 4 (1988) — Winter 1988 // Hiver 1988, pp. 41–42 Have you noticed that all passengers look in the same directionat the bus stop?Waitingthey stare fixedlynecks craning over those in frontover heads swathed in scarves, toques, hoodshere and there the occasional fur hat Has a number 12 gone by? […]
Poems
bout de papier, Vol. 5, No. 1 (1987) — Spring 1987 // Printemps 1987, p. 52 Diplomatic “Corpse” Immunity! Immunity! what’s happened to immunity?There was a time when the ‘Corps’ was thought a privileged community!But now we have to take our chanceOf gun or bomb – “Pauvre Excellence!”And not to mention Fer-de-LanceThey get us with […]
Ode (of sorts) to a pot bellied stove
bout de papier, Vol. 4, No. 4 (1986) — Winter 1986 // Hiver 1986, p. 11 My name, you’ll see, is Dandy!And I’m sure I’ll come in handy.I’ve been cast about a life-timeBut now I’m in my secondprime:Still of use, handsome too,Worth full ten times originalvalue.Being now antique to boot,My pedigree is absolute!*(Cast in 1893 […]
Prince Myshkin
bout de papier, Vol. 4, No. 3 (1986) — Fall 1986 // Automne 1986, p. 17 I have a holy fool inside.He weighs each word I say.And when I talk coherentlyI feel him drift away,Walk into the midnight fog,And wrap himself aroundA derelict, a pimp, a fagFor company underground.Or make a holy sacrifice,Idle in the […]
The Magnificent Migration
bout de papier, Vol. 4, No. 2 (1986) — Spring/Summer 1986 // Printemps/Été 1986, p. 37 I awoke at sunrise to that haunting inimitable sound –Faint it surely was but unmistakableThe “kraahk-waahk” of flying choristersHigh in the dawn’s first light above our nation’s capitalA splendid “V” of Canada Geese, northward bound.And this early morning rouse […]
Robert Ford
Robert Ford, Canada’s Ambassador to Moscow for more than 16 years, expert in East/West relations and Russian poetry, and recipient of the Governor General’s medal for poetry for his work “A Window on the North”, has retired from the diplomatic service and…
