Ongoing Series: Poets Respond to The Breakwater Book of Contemporary Newfoundland Poetry

The Breakwater Book of Contemporary Newfoundland Poetry, edited by Mark Callahan and James Langer, was published earlier this year and features the work of 11 poets who "developed—either by birth or residence—a strong relationship with the island of Newfoundland prior to the publication of their first full-length collection of poetry." This anthology includes the work of Al Pittman, Tom Dawe, John Steffler, Mary Dalton, Carmelita McGrath, Richard Greene, Michael Crummey, Agnes Walsh, Ken Babstock, Sue Sinclair, and Patrick Warner.

Fiddlehead editor Ross Leckie and I reached out to poets across the country to get their perspective on the 11 poets selected. We didn't want an overly complex analysis of the featured work, nor did we want to call into question the editors' selection. We wanted poets simply responding to poets. Appreciations. And the responses—we hope you agree—are thoughtful, generous, and illuminating.

Starting tomorrow and over the next several weeks and months, we'll be posting what came back to us over the electronic transom. On behalf of The Fiddlehead team, we hope you enjoy.

Ian LeTourneau

Poetry Co-editor

October 24: Richard Kemick on Tom Dawe

October 29: Stan Dragland on Agnes Walsh

November 5: John Steffler on Al Pittman

November 14: Katia Grubisic on Ken Babstock

November 20: Lynn Davies on Mary Dalton

November 26: Susan Gillis on Sue Sinclair

December 3: George Murray on Patrick Warner 

December 9: Jeffery Donaldson on Richard Greene

December 16: Shoshanna Wingate on Carmelita McGrath

January 6, 2014: Lorna Crozier on Michael Crummey

January 16, 2014: Vanessa Moeller on John Steffler