American friends of mine have told me that they envy Canada for its Poets and songwriters. These friends are within a couple years of my age, and I am turning 40 later this year. But what does this mean to me, a Canadian, who remembers being told in school that Canada has internationally awarded poets; I never would have thought that Americans of my age group were learning a mirror version of our history? They know about Margaret Atwood; though they thought Leonard Cohen was American. I asked in turn, 'if Leonard Cohen is American, where is he from in America and why does he speak French?'. The response that only made sense to reply by one was Louisiana. Though beyond Margaret Atwood, they couldn't name another, which made me doubt my supposed stance that Canadian Poetry has an international standard, as I as well, couldn't name another either. I have read some Canadian Poets, but were any as great as Atwood? At times, yes, some poets really sho...
A collection by Patrick Smith