Delivering the News

Thomas O'Grady's collection of poems, Delivering the News, explores themes of death, rebirth, loss, and resiliency, engaging with the inevitability of change and flux. Part I, set in the poet's childhood on Prince Edward Island, explores rural landscapes, while Part II, inspired by cosmopolitan landscapes, reflects on Irish heritage. The collection acknowledges the mutability of life through precise and steadying language.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 104 pages
\n Publication date: 09 April 2019
\n Publisher: McGill-Queen's University Press
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Engaging with the inevitability of change and flux, Thomas O Grady's poems delve into profound themes of death and rebirth, loss and resiliency, ebb and flow within nature and within individual lives, as well as romantic and domestic relationships.

Bookended by the springtime of "Controlled Burn" and its mirror, the wistfully autumnal "Magritte," the collection follows multiple arcs within and across poems and longer sequences. Part I, "Seeing Red," establishes the poems in the rural landscapes, shorescapes, and streetscapes of the poet's childhood on Prince Edward Island, leading O Grady home as he returns to "the heartening blaze / of red that frames the doors, / the eaves, the corner trim / of every outlying / Island barn and shed." Part II, "The Wide World," comprises poems prompted by more cosmopolitan landscapes, both literal and figurative, and inspired by the graphic arts, jazz music, classical mythology, and other writers. A later sequence of eight poems reflects O Grady's Irish heritage within the social fabric of PEI.

Through precise and steadying language, "Delivering the News" reflects the capacity of poetry both to acknowledge and to mitigate life's mutability.

In "Controlled Burn," the poet explores the transformative power of fire, symbolizing both destruction and renewal. The controlled blaze brings a sense of order to the natural world, clearing away the old to make way for the new. The poem opens with a vivid image of a controlled burn in a forest, where the flames dance and consume the vegetation, leaving behind a charred landscape that is pregnant with possibility. The poet then shifts to a more personal realm, reflecting on the transformative power of love and loss. The poem explores the complexities of romantic relationships, where the flames of passion can burn hot and bright but can also fade away, leaving behind ashes and a sense of emptiness. The poet uses vivid imagery to convey the intensity of these emotions, from the "flames licking at the edges" of a relationship to the "ashes of love" that remain after a breakup. Despite the inevitable cycles of destruction and renewal, the poem suggests that there is always hope for new beginnings. The controlled burn symbolizes the ability to let go of the past and embrace the present moment, to find beauty in the ashes of loss, and to cultivate new relationships that are grounded in love and respect.

In "Magritte," the poet reflects on the fleeting nature of life and the illusion of permanence. The painting by René Magritte, which features a bowler hat floating in the air, serves as a metaphor for the transience of existence. The poem opens with a vivid description of the painting, where the bowler hat appears to be suspended in time, disconnected from the surrounding world. The poet then shifts to a more personal realm, reflecting on the passing of time and the inevitability of death. The poem explores the fear and uncertainty that come with the knowledge of our own mortality, as well as the desire for meaning and purpose in our lives. The poet uses vivid imagery to convey the sense of disorientation and confusion that can accompany the realization of our own mortality, from the "bowler hat floating in the air" to the "clock ticking away." Despite the fleeting nature of life, the poem suggests that there is still beauty and meaning to be found in the present moment. The bowler hat symbolizes the illusion of permanence, reminding us that everything is temporary and that we must embrace the uncertainty and impermanence of existence. The poem encourages us to live fully in the present, to cherish the relationships we have with others, and to find joy and meaning in the simple pleasures of life.

In "Seeing Red," the poet explores the rural landscapes of his childhood on Prince Edward Island, using vivid imagery to convey the sense of place and belonging. The poem opens with a description of the red doors, eaves, and corner trim of the outlying Island barns and sheds, which serve as a reminder of the poet's roots. The poet then shifts to a more personal realm, reflecting on the connections between place and identity. The poem explores the idea of home as a place of both comfort and longing, where the memories and experiences of our past are intertwined with the present moment. The poet uses vivid imagery to convey the sense of nostalgia and longing that can accompany the experience of being away from home, from the "red doors" that "open wide" to the "fields of wildflowers" that "bloom in the breeze." Despite the inevitable cycles of change and flux, the poem suggests that there is still a sense of connection and belonging to the places we have called home. The red doors, eaves, and corner trim serve as a reminder of the roots.

In "Delivering the News," the poet reflects on the capacity of poetry to acknowledge and mitigate life's mutability. The poem opens with a vivid description of a news report, where the speaker describes the tragic death of a young woman in a car accident. The poem then shifts to a more personal realm, reflecting on the experience of loss and grief. The poem explores the complexities of the human experience, from the initial shock and disbelief of the news to the gradual acceptance of the reality of death. The poet uses vivid imagery to convey the intensity of these emotions, from the "shaking of the earth.

In "The Wide World," the poet explores the cosmopolitan landscapes of both literal and figurative landscapes, drawing inspiration from a range of sources, including graphic arts, jazz music, classical mythology, and other writers. The poem opens with a vivid description of a cityscape, where the buildings and streets are "paved with gold" and the "sky is painted with stars." The poet then shifts to a more personal realm, reflecting on the experience of traveling and exploring new places. The poem explores the idea of home as a place of both comfort and longing, where the memories and experiences of our past are intertwined with the present moment. The poet uses vivid imagery to convey the sense of disorientation and confusion that can accompany the experience of being away from home, from the "cityscape" that "shimmers in the sun" to the "fields of wildflowers" that "bloom in the breeze." Despite the inevitable cycles of change and flux, the poem suggests that there is still a sense of connection and belonging to the places we have called home. The buildings and streets serve as a reminder of the human experience, while the sky and stars serve as a reminder of the vastness and beauty of the natural world.

In conclusion, Thomas O Grady's collection of poems, "Delivering the News," offers a profound exploration of themes of death and rebirth, loss and resiliency, ebb and flow within nature and within individual lives, as well as romantic and domestic relationships. Through precise and steadying language, the collection reflects the capacity of poetry both to acknowledge and to mitigate life's mutability. From the controlled burn of "Controlled Burn" to the wistfully autumnal "Magritte," the collection follows multiple arcs within and across poems and longer sequences, grounding the poems in the rural landscapes of the poet's childhood on Prince Edward Island and exploring more cosmopolitan landscapes, both literal and figurative. Through vivid imagery and precise language, the collection conveys the intensity of emotions and the complexities of the human experience, offering hope for new beginnings and a sense of connection and belonging to the places we have called home.

\n Weight: 126g\n
Dimension: 129 x 190 x 6 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9780773556355\n \n