This attentively crafted collection of poetry straddles a fine line between self-awareness and self-absorption, but more than once tips into navel gazing that excludes or repels rather than welcomes the reader. This recent winner of the Canadian portion of the 2009 Griffin Poetry Prize is forgiven its ponderous lapses, however, when it redeems itself with the wry humour and crisp observations of poems such as “Busman’s Honeymoon”. Who can’t help but feel included in the universal experience of waiting for, being frustratingly passed by and joining in the communal experience of riding a bus?

“it streaks through storm, now flashing Not In Service
from its radiant forehead, polluted and obscured
by splattered mud, till it can reach its station

and help to ease the overflow of us
waiting in anger. Then we all barge in
and improbably improve the poetry of the bus.”

This is warm, down-to-earth, approachable poetry. The voice is plain-spoken, at times wistful, at times feisty, always charming. Thanks to Leslie Greentree for making us love the supposedly non-beautiful sister so much more.

Jeramy Dodds layers striking and unlikely images and breathtaking wordplay to concoct the refreshingly quirky poems of “Crabwise to the Hounds”. Many poems culminate in wistful, moving conclusions. Those inspired by Glenn Gould are especially intriguing.

“… and in that moment you flapped from me I could picture a thousand words I wanted to say to make you stay.”

“Pull yourself together, because our Emissaries have come / down the aluminum rungs we sawed / half through, and they’re standing, / wearing I’m With Stupid T-shirts beside you.”