Gary Geddes Boeken

Exploring the devastating impact of war, this collection presents four powerful works by a renowned Canadian poet. It serves as both a critical reflection on the horrors of conflict and a celebration of the strength found in poetic storytelling.

The Qingming Shanghe Tu scroll, sometimes called "Spring Festival by the River," was thought to have been painted by Zhang Zeduan before 1127, when the Northern Song capital of Bian-Iiang was overrun by the invading Jin. Inspired by the figures in the scroll, Geddes found stories demanding to be told, tales of the droll, exacting, sometimes turbulent life of cities. In shimmering verse, Geddes captures the voice of the painter himself and those of the underprivileged, with their not-so-subtle forms of dissent. Cleverly illustrated to intertwine East and West in dialogue, this ingenious volume juxtaposes a reproduction of the scroll that reads from back to front (experienced as Chinese reads) with Geddes' poems, which read from front to back.

The collection features a series of poems that challenge and provoke thought, showcasing Gary Geddes's strikingly vivid and intense writing style. With a blend of humor and seriousness, the poems explore the desires and implications of what a house symbolizes, prompting readers to reflect deeply on their own lives and surroundings. Geddes's work is noted for its cinematic quality and emotional impact, making this collection both engaging and thought-provoking.

The collection weaves together narratives from diverse locations such as the Yukon, Chernobyl, and Guatemala, exploring themes of conflict and struggle. Through poignant lyrics, Geddes addresses universal issues like family dynamics, gun control, and the farm crisis, creating a tapestry that is both globally relevant and deeply personal. This blend of experiences and reflections showcases the poet's ability to connect individual stories with broader societal concerns.

Gary Geddes's new collection of lyrics and poem-sequences ranges from whimsical poems about the building of a greenhouse to the struggle of characters in classical legends to cope with the interference of close relatives and extended family, the gods. And poems about Yukon adventures and the wonders and plight of monarch butterflies in Mexican highlands. It's also a diverse gathering of elegies for friends, literary luminaries, creatures and natural habitats in a world under siege, but also a series of hymns to art, beauty, human dignity and endurance.