Poetry
25 An Anthology of Poems for Further Study
Philip Kevin Paul (1971–)
“Such a Tiny Light”
Read “Such a Tiny Light” and learn about its context.
Activities
- “’Such a Tiny Light,’” Paul explains, “represents my conversation with and sensitivity to mortality and loss.” What examples of mortality and loss does he provide in the poem to reinforce this theme?
- What is the form or genre of the poem?
- Identify examples of personification in the poem, and explain how they support the poem’s theme?
- What, literally, is the tiny light to which the poem’s title alludes? What (metaphorically/symbolically) does the tiny light represent?
Gregory Scofield (1966–)
“The Sewing Circle”
Read “The Sewing Circle” [PDF].
Activities
- Who is the narrator of this poem? What seminal event in Canadian history inspired this poem?
- What is a sewing circle? How has Scofield altered its traditional purpose to underscore the theme of his poem?
- Why does the poem include so many religious references, and how does the narrator’s faith influence the poem’s theme?
- Identify and explain the effect of the simile Scofield uses in stanzas 6-7.
- Describe the tone, the voice of the poem. Does the tone suggest the outcome of battle to be fought?
Marilyn Dumont (1955–)
“Leather and Naugahyde”
Read “Leather and Naugahyde.”
Activities
- What are the qualities of “Leather and Naugahyde” that make it a poem, rather than a single prose paragraph?
- What is Naugahyde and why is it an effective metaphor for the differences in ethnic identities at the heart of the poem?
- What is a “treaty guy”? How and why does his attitude towards the poem’s narrator suddenly change? What is the nature of the change?
- What is the theme of the poem?
- Read additional information on indigenous Canadian authors [PDF].
Rita Dove (1952–)
“Heart to Heart”
Read “Heart to Heart.”
Activities
- What is a cliché? List the clichés related to the human heart that Dove references in the poem. What is her purpose in doing so?
- How would you describe the tone, the voice of the poem? How does the form of the poem shape the tone? Is there a change in tone, as the poem comes to an end?
- Poems about hearts are usually love poems. Is this a love poem? Support your answer.
- Watch an interview with Rita Dove. Does the interview give you any insights into the theme and form of “Heart to Heart”?
Emma Laroque (1949–)
“The Red in Winter”
Read “The Red in Winter” and learn about its context.
Activities
- What is the significance—the double entendre—of the title of the poem?
- How do personification and symbolism add layers of meaning to this poem?
- How does the form of the poem—its brevity, especially—influence its theme?
Yusef Komunyakaa (1947–)
“Facing It”
Read “Facing It” and watch and listen to Komunyakka read “Facing It.”
Activities
- How do we know that the poet, visiting the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial, is a Vietnam vet himself?
- Komunyakaa wants readers to know that civilians who would not have served in Vietnam