In response to a poety friend...

Some time a while back... Paul Vermeersch wrote:

If you had to pick one, what would you say is your favorite Canadian poem?

I know it's hard to pick one, but please try. 

Thanks,
Paul

***AND SINCE I HAVEN"T NUTHIN SINCE I REPLIED...***

Ummm...

1. In Flanders Fields by Lieutenant John McCrae

Why? (You didn`t ask but why not?) My Grandfather was injured in the war ( a Brit fighting for the Canadian Army) and was a cranky old devil because he had shot coming out of his legs even when he was in his seventies.  But I can`t forget him...he was tough and a real man (fit, moustache, glint in eye)

2. Cremation of Sam Mcgee by Robert Service (Is he Canadian?)

Why? (This is a pretty good sales pitch for why all them limeys came to Canada in the first place in search of gold and adventure, eh, wha?)

3. Suzanne by Leonard Cohen

(Montreal, 1986, 19 years old and long blond hair... just a valley boy in the big city...)

There a few good poems in ATLAS including one by 'the cock' and Kim Morrissey and fellow named Swift, Todd. But the Heather Spears sketches are the best.