Saturday, April 30, 2016
some author activity: mclennan, Ladouceur, Babineau + Armantrout,
rob mclennan is interviewed by Oscar Martens; there is a new interview with Ben Ladouceur on The League of Canadian Poets blog, and he's a new poem up at The Walrus; Kemeny Babineau has a new poem posted as part of the "Tuesday poem" series over at the dusie blog; and Rae Armantrout has a poem online at Granta.
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
backlist #8: Hawkins, Casamassima, Gold, Brockwell, Reid, Middle + Davey,
Given the above/ground press archive is together for the first time, I've been digging through boxes and discovering titles I thought either completely out-of-print or very close. It was suggested to me that perhaps I should start offering various titles to the public, simply to see what might appeal (scroll down here to see the entire list). To order, send cheques (add $1 for postage; outside Canada, add $2) to: rob mclennan, 2423 Alta Vista Drive, Ottawa ON K1H 7M9 or paypal at www.robmclennan.blogspot.com:
58. the black prince of bank street, by William Hawkins
$15 each / 5 copies available
originally published in an edition of 300 copies, August 2007
59. Septology, by Christophe Casamassima
$10 each / 4 copies available
originally published in an edition of 200 copies, November 2005
60. THE HOTEL VICTORIA POEMS, by Artie Gold
$10 each / 5 copies available
originally published in an edition of 250 copies, September 2003
61. Marin County Poems, by Stephen Brockwell
$15 each / 3 copies available
originally published in an edition of 200 copies, February 2001
62. cuba A book, by Monty Reid
$15 each / 1 copy available
originally published in an edition of 300 copies, May 2005
63. A Creation Song, by Max Middle
$15 each / 4 copies available
originally published in an edition of 200 copies, January 2004
64. Risky Propositions, by Frank Davey
$10 each / 10 copies available
originally published in an edition of 400 copies, February 2005
58. the black prince of bank street, by William Hawkins
$15 each / 5 copies available
originally published in an edition of 300 copies, August 2007
59. Septology, by Christophe Casamassima
$10 each / 4 copies available
originally published in an edition of 200 copies, November 2005
60. THE HOTEL VICTORIA POEMS, by Artie Gold
$10 each / 5 copies available
originally published in an edition of 250 copies, September 2003
61. Marin County Poems, by Stephen Brockwell
$15 each / 3 copies available
originally published in an edition of 200 copies, February 2001
62. cuba A book, by Monty Reid
$15 each / 1 copy available
originally published in an edition of 300 copies, May 2005
63. A Creation Song, by Max Middle
$15 each / 4 copies available
originally published in an edition of 200 copies, January 2004

$10 each / 10 copies available
originally published in an edition of 400 copies, February 2005
Tuesday, April 26, 2016
above/ground press on Parliament Hill: Clarke, Earl, Reid + mclennan,
As part of his tenure as current Parliamentary Poet Laureate, George Elliott Clarke hosted a poetry reading in Centre Block of Parliament Hill this past Friday afternoon, featuring poets Amanda Earl, Monty Reid, myself and Romanian-Canadian poet Diana Manole [who posted her own report on the event here]. Incredible thanks to Mr. Clarke and all on the Hill who had helped make such possible!
I was unclear whether or not a poetry reading had been held on the hill prior (apart from, say, Milton Acorn, who used to perform his poetry on the grounds circa 1970, or the complete reading jwcurry did of bpNichol's The Martyrology in the gazebo behind the Parliament Buildings in July 2006), but Clarke claimed this was the first official poetry reading on Parliament Hill, which was incredibly exciting to think about (although I always consider such statements suspect, and am hesitant to back such a claim without further research). Sponsored by The League of Canadian Poets, this year's #NationalPoetryMonth theme was "The Road," to which Clarke appended William Shakespeare as well, and most readers (but for myself) read a short excerpt of Shakespeare's work as part of their performance.
The room was perfect for the event, known as room 256-S Centre Block (I attempted more information on-line of the space, but found little but this array of photos), decorated with maps, and paintings of ships, trains and other modes of transport. The road, indeed.
Clarke later offered that he originally launched Whylah Falls in Centre Block in 1990, also, as organized by his MP, Dr. Howard Douglas McCurdy (I know numerous books have been launched on the hill, having even been in attendance for a mid-1990s event of Anglo-Quebec poets), but this the first, he suggests, with League funding (I'd be curious if there's a list anywhere of prior poetry readings on the Hill).
The crowd was roughly forty or so, predominantly made up of a variety of Hill workers (and even the Romanian Ambassador to Canada!) as well as poets Roland Prevost and Janice Tokar (who were good enough to take these photos with my terrible camera) and Chris Johnson. Clarke's reading included King Lear, Earl's included an array of unpublished work composed around her hospital scare from a few years back, Manole read from her Romanian-English poetry collection B&W, and Reid read a selection of pieces from a number of his published books (given, at that point, I was recovering from newborn and night two of three sleeping at the Montfort with Christine and baby, I'm amazed I recall so well; the afternoon was a bit hazy. I was even wearing clothes I'd been sleeping in...). I read two unpublished poems, including this piece, composed for newborn Aoife.
I was unclear whether or not a poetry reading had been held on the hill prior (apart from, say, Milton Acorn, who used to perform his poetry on the grounds circa 1970, or the complete reading jwcurry did of bpNichol's The Martyrology in the gazebo behind the Parliament Buildings in July 2006), but Clarke claimed this was the first official poetry reading on Parliament Hill, which was incredibly exciting to think about (although I always consider such statements suspect, and am hesitant to back such a claim without further research). Sponsored by The League of Canadian Poets, this year's #NationalPoetryMonth theme was "The Road," to which Clarke appended William Shakespeare as well, and most readers (but for myself) read a short excerpt of Shakespeare's work as part of their performance.
The room was perfect for the event, known as room 256-S Centre Block (I attempted more information on-line of the space, but found little but this array of photos), decorated with maps, and paintings of ships, trains and other modes of transport. The road, indeed.
Clarke later offered that he originally launched Whylah Falls in Centre Block in 1990, also, as organized by his MP, Dr. Howard Douglas McCurdy (I know numerous books have been launched on the hill, having even been in attendance for a mid-1990s event of Anglo-Quebec poets), but this the first, he suggests, with League funding (I'd be curious if there's a list anywhere of prior poetry readings on the Hill).
The crowd was roughly forty or so, predominantly made up of a variety of Hill workers (and even the Romanian Ambassador to Canada!) as well as poets Roland Prevost and Janice Tokar (who were good enough to take these photos with my terrible camera) and Chris Johnson. Clarke's reading included King Lear, Earl's included an array of unpublished work composed around her hospital scare from a few years back, Manole read from her Romanian-English poetry collection B&W, and Reid read a selection of pieces from a number of his published books (given, at that point, I was recovering from newborn and night two of three sleeping at the Montfort with Christine and baby, I'm amazed I recall so well; the afternoon was a bit hazy. I was even wearing clothes I'd been sleeping in...). I read two unpublished poems, including this piece, composed for newborn Aoife.
Saturday, April 23, 2016
some author activity: Earl, Levin, Armantrout + Christie,
Amanda Earl has a new poem up at The Steel Chisel; A.J. Levin has a new essay in the "On Writing" series over at the ottawa poetry newsletter; Rae Armantrout has a new poem up at The Nation; and Jason Christie has a new poem posted at the Chaudiere Books blog for National Poetry Month.
Friday, April 22, 2016
backlist #7: STANZAS magazine (part three
Given the above/ground press archive is together for the first time, I've been digging through boxes and discovering titles I thought either completely out-of-print or very close. It was suggested to me that perhaps I should start offering various titles to the public, simply to see what might appeal (see lists one, two, three and four, as well as STANZAS magazine lists one and two). To order, send cheques (add $1 for postage; outside Canada, add $2) to: rob mclennan, 2423 Alta Vista Drive, Ottawa ON K1H 7M9 or paypal at www.robmclennan.blogspot.com:
See a full bibliography of the long poem magazine STANZAS at http://abovegroundpress.blogspot.ca/2014/08/stanzas-magazine-bibliography-1993-2006.html
49. STANZAS #34, "Three Pieces of Glass" by Aaron Peck
$10 each /7 copies available
May 2003
50. STANZAS #35, "Highway 99" by Meredith Quartermain
$10 each / 10 copies available
September 2003
51. STANZAS #36, "all sets go" by Daniel f. Bradley
$10 each / 9 copies available
November 2003
52. STANZAS #37, "Americausal" by Rob Budde
$10 each / 7 copies
January 2004
53. STANZAS #38, "Calcite Gours 1-19" by derek beaulieu
$10 each / 10 copies available
February 2004
54. STANZAS #39, "Dream Songs" by J.L. Jacobs
$10 each / 7 copies available
March 2004
55. STANZAS #41, "ottawa poems (blue notes)" by rob mclennan
$10 each / 5 copies available
May 2005
56. STANZAS #42, "Personal Peripherals 1-30" by Jan Allen
$6 each / 4 copies available
October 2005
57. STANZAS #43, "MORE FUN W/ 'PATAPHYSICS" by Sharon Harris
$6 each / 8 copies available
January 2006
See a full bibliography of the long poem magazine STANZAS at http://abovegroundpress.blogspot.ca/2014/08/stanzas-magazine-bibliography-1993-2006.html
49. STANZAS #34, "Three Pieces of Glass" by Aaron Peck
$10 each /
May 2003
50. STANZAS #35, "Highway 99" by Meredith Quartermain
$10 each / 10 copies available
September 2003
51. STANZAS #36, "all sets go" by Daniel f. Bradley
$10 each / 9 copies available
November 2003
52. STANZAS #37, "Americausal" by Rob Budde
$10 each / 7 copies
January 2004
53. STANZAS #38, "Calcite Gours 1-19" by derek beaulieu
$10 each / 10 copies available
February 2004
54. STANZAS #39, "Dream Songs" by J.L. Jacobs
$10 each / 7 copies available
March 2004
55. STANZAS #41, "ottawa poems (blue notes)" by rob mclennan
$10 each / 5 copies available
May 2005

$6 each / 4 copies available
October 2005
57. STANZAS #43, "MORE FUN W/ 'PATAPHYSICS" by Sharon Harris
$6 each / 8 copies available
January 2006
Monday, April 18, 2016
backlist #6: STANZAS magazine (part two
See a full bibliography of the long poem magazine STANZAS at http://abovegroundpress.blogspot.ca/2014/08/stanzas-magazine-bibliography-1993-2006.html
40. STANZAS #21, "this / evidence against you" by natalie hanna
$15 each / 2 copies available
October 1999
41. STANZAS #22, "an unnatural history of the sexes" by Anne Stone
$15 each / 3 copies available
January 2000
42. STANZAS #23, "cooleys key" by rob mclennan
$15 each / 4 copies available
March 2000
43. STANZAS #24, "Aequanimitas" by Chris McCreary
$10 each / 8 copies available
May 2000
44. STANZAS #25, "further revisions" by ryan fitzpatrick
$15 each / 2 copies available
July 2001
45. STANZAS #26, "SYNONYMS FOR FISH" by Gary Barwin
$10 each / 5 copies available
March 2001
46. STANZAS #29, "What Exile This" by nathalie stephens (now Nathanaƫl)
$10 each / 6 copies available
January 2002
47. STANZAS #31, "Meteor Showers" by Gil McElroy
$10 each / 5 copies available
May 2002

$15 each / 3 copies available
September 2002
Saturday, April 16, 2016
some author activity: Christie, Hall, Brockwell + Robinson,
Jason Christie has some new work posted at NationalPoetryMonth.ca; Phil Hall is interviewed by CBC Books; Stephen Brockwell has a new poem posted on the Chaudiere Books blog for National Poetry Month, as does Elizabeth Robinson.
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
backlist #5: STANZAS magazine
Given the above/ground press archive is together for the first time, I've been digging through boxes and discovering titles I thought either completely out-of-print or very close. It was suggested to me that perhaps I should start offering various titles to the public, simply to see what might appeal (see lists one, two, three and four). To order, send cheques (add $1 for postage; outside Canada, add $2) to: rob mclennan, 2423 Alta Vista Drive, Ottawa ON K1H 7M9 or paypal at www.robmclennan.blogspot.com:
See a full bibliography of the long poem magazine STANZAS at http://abovegroundpress.blogspot.ca/2014/08/stanzas-magazine-bibliography-1993-2006.html
30. STANZAS #6, "stiltman." by C.J. Lockett; "love & the automated bank teller" by Brian Burke
$15 each / 7 copies available
July/August 1995
31. STANZAS #10, "Crashing Out" by I.M. Wiley
$10 each / 5 copies available
October 1996
32. STANZAS #11, "Re: Crossing" by Colin Morton; "Ferries Taken" by Aiden Baker
$10 each / 5 copies available
February 1997
33. STANZAS #12, "BLONDES ON BIKES: 1-20" by George Bowering
$25 each / 4 copies available
April 1997
34. STANZAS #13, "inside first floor at the randomization factory" by meghan lynch (now Meghan Jackson)
$15 each / 2 copies available
June 1997
35. STANZAS #14, "A Medical History of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan" by Carla Milo (now Carla Barkman)
$15 each / 5 copies available
September 1997
36. STANZAS #15, "from last leaves" by rob mclennan
$15 each / 5 copies available
January 1998
37. STANZAS #17, "from COAST ALL JOURN ALL" by Jay MillAr
$15 each / 4 copies available
May 1998
38. STANZAS #18, "TWELVE POEMS FOR HUMAN BUTTERFLIES" by Greg Evason
$15 each / 5 copies available
September 1998
39 STANZAS #19, "t sea ache" by Joe Blades
$15 each / 3 copies available
February 1999
See a full bibliography of the long poem magazine STANZAS at http://abovegroundpress.blogspot.ca/2014/08/stanzas-magazine-bibliography-1993-2006.html
30. STANZAS #6, "stiltman." by C.J. Lockett; "love & the automated bank teller" by Brian Burke
$15 each / 7 copies available
July/August 1995
31. STANZAS #10, "Crashing Out" by I.M. Wiley
$10 each / 5 copies available
October 1996
32. STANZAS #11, "Re: Crossing" by Colin Morton; "Ferries Taken" by Aiden Baker
$10 each / 5 copies available
February 1997
33. STANZAS #12, "BLONDES ON BIKES: 1-20" by George Bowering
$25 each / 4 copies available
April 1997
34. STANZAS #13, "inside first floor at the randomization factory" by meghan lynch (now Meghan Jackson)
$15 each / 2 copies available
June 1997
35. STANZAS #14, "A Medical History of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan" by Carla Milo (now Carla Barkman)
$15 each / 5 copies available
September 1997
36. STANZAS #15, "from last leaves" by rob mclennan
$15 each / 5 copies available
January 1998
37. STANZAS #17, "from COAST ALL JOURN ALL" by Jay MillAr
$15 each / 4 copies available
May 1998
38. STANZAS #18, "TWELVE POEMS FOR HUMAN BUTTERFLIES" by Greg Evason
$15 each / 5 copies available
September 1998

$15 each / 3 copies available
February 1999
Tuesday, April 12, 2016
new from above/ground press: Odds Are, by lary timewell
Odds Are
lary timewell
$4
published in Ottawa by above/ground press
April 2016
a/g subscribers receive a complimentary copy
lary timewell is a North Vancouver writer recently returned from 20 years in Fukushima. The co-founder and publisher of the late 1980s and early 90s Tsunami Editions, he has published a number of titles, including two chapbooks from Obvious Epiphanies. Some of his latest work from the expanding manuscript molecular hyperbole recently appeared in Make It True: Poetry from Cascadia, eds. Paul Nelson, George Stanley, Barry McKinnon and Nadine Maestas (Lantzville, BC: Leaf Press, 2015).
This is his second chapbook with above/ground press, after tones employed as loss (2013).
Produced, in part, as a handout at The New Orleans Poetry Festival, April 15-17, 2016. Much thanks to Marthe Reed for her help and support. http://www.lavenderink.org/poetryfest/schedule/
To order, send cheques (add $1 for postage; outside Canada, add $2) to: rob mclennan, 2423 Alta Vista Drive, Ottawa ON K1H 7M9 or paypal at www.robmclennan.blogspot.com
lary timewell
$4
The distinction disappears but the things remain, as if history were(history were) an afterimage. Aspirate the h out of it; a unit of eulogy,one. Arbitrary, so long as we are consistent. Colloquial is not illiterate.To follow a task greater than to lead. Resolute happiness countingthe beats in anomalous time, reading down the page in 4D. Reading con-sonantal discontent, boring into the infernal meantime speakers re-present. Choosing less before sufficient, we position an exit more glorious.The day is done but (inserted) here to do over again, the work more ill-advised& ungrammatical than ever. A re-arrangement that never signals defeat. In-verted, the institution becomes parenthetical to process. When you thinkabout it too long, nonce-word. Greek stems, Latin advocatus diaboli. Instantlyplausible, pattern. Not precision & cogency, but cut & dried. Supposed,the unspoken (heard) analogies themselves dispense sense. Writing isexception-tested, & subsequent practice discriminates, attends based on marketvalue. That it must count for something fair seems unfair. Only the un-
published in Ottawa by above/ground press
April 2016
a/g subscribers receive a complimentary copy
lary timewell is a North Vancouver writer recently returned from 20 years in Fukushima. The co-founder and publisher of the late 1980s and early 90s Tsunami Editions, he has published a number of titles, including two chapbooks from Obvious Epiphanies. Some of his latest work from the expanding manuscript molecular hyperbole recently appeared in Make It True: Poetry from Cascadia, eds. Paul Nelson, George Stanley, Barry McKinnon and Nadine Maestas (Lantzville, BC: Leaf Press, 2015).
This is his second chapbook with above/ground press, after tones employed as loss (2013).
Produced, in part, as a handout at The New Orleans Poetry Festival, April 15-17, 2016. Much thanks to Marthe Reed for her help and support. http://www.lavenderink.org/poetryfest/schedule/
To order, send cheques (add $1 for postage; outside Canada, add $2) to: rob mclennan, 2423 Alta Vista Drive, Ottawa ON K1H 7M9 or paypal at www.robmclennan.blogspot.com
Saturday, April 9, 2016
some author activity: Turnbull, Clarke, Earl + Greenstreet,
Chris Turnbull is interviewed by Ian Whistle over at the ottawa poetry newsletter; George Elliott Clarke has a new poem on the Chaudiere Books blog as part of National Poetry Month; Amanda Earl has a new poem up at h&; and Kate Greenstreet and The Factory Reading Series get a nice mention over at Amanda Earl's blog.
Friday, April 8, 2016
backlist #4: Dachsel, Desberats, Bowling, Winter 2, mclennan + Barbour,
20. learning to breathe, Marita Dachsel
$10 each / 4 copies available
originally published in an edition of 300 copies, May 1996
21. PURDYESQUE, ed. rob mclennan
George Bowering, Stephen Brockwell, Gwendolyn Guth, Steven Heighton and rob mclennan
$10 each / 5 copies available
originally published in an edition of 250 copies as part of a reading at the conference "Al Purdy: The Ivory Thought" at the University of Ottawa, May 5-7, 2006
22. Eve 'n Adam, Michelle Desberats Fels
$15 each / 3 copies available
originally published in an edition of 200 copies, March 1998
23. HERE AND THERE, Tim Bowling
$10 / 9 copies available
originally published in an edition of 250 copies for handout for National Poetry Month, April 2001
24. Winter 2, ed. rob mclennan
Jesse Ferguson, Lea Graham, Gwendolyn Guth, Meghan Jackson, rob mclennan, Jennifer Mulligan and Sandra Ridley
$10 each / 13 copies available
originally published in an edition of 400 copies for handout during Winterlude, February 2006

$10 each / 6 copies available
originally published in an edition of 200 copies, October 1998
26. It's over is it over, Love's Fragmented Narrative, Douglas Barbour
$10 each / 3 copies available
originally published in an edition of 300 copies, April 2005
27. sex at 31, rob mclennan
$15 each / 2 copies available
originally published in an edition of 200 copies, March 2001
28. TEN, ed. rob mclennan
Eleni Zisimatos Auerbach, Aidan Baker, John Barton, John M. Bennett, Stephen Brockwell, George Elliott Clarke, Shannon Cowan, Michael Dennis, Anita Dolman, Susan Elmslie, m erskine, Jon Paul Fiorentino, ryan fitzpatrick, Natalie Hanna, Matthew Holmes, Warren Layberry, A.J. Levin, Gil McElroy, rob mclennan, Colin Morton, Sheila E. Murphy, Sharon H. Nelson, Ken Norris, Meredith Quartermain and Andy Weaver
$25 each / 3 copies available
originally published in an edition of 300 copies for the tenth anniversary reading/party of above/ground press, August 28, 2003

$10 each / 6 copies available
originally published in an edition of 200 copies for handout distribution at AWP, Texas, March 2006
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