Book Title:  Vermeer's Light:  Poems 1996-2006

Author:  George Bowering

Publishing Company:  Talonbooks

Year:  2007

# of Pages: 218

ISBN #:  978-0-88922-565-7

$19.95 Canada and United States 

4 ½ Stars 

Reviewer:  Deborah Ground Buckner 

George Bowering has the distinguished honor of being Canada's first poet laureate.  A prolific writer, his publications lagged somewhat while in office, but now comes a collection of much of his work of that era, Vermeer's Light:  Poems 1996-2006.   

Bowering introduces this collection with the observation that “These poems were written during a time that brought a lot of changes to my life.”  Those changes included the loss of his wife of thirty-seven years, Angela, after years with multiple sclerosis followed by cancer and a series of surgeries; his work as Canada's poet laureate; a move from his home of thirty years; and a period of recovery from a broken hip.  Any one of these experiences would be considered among the great stresses of life, yet the result is a collection of work demonstrating the art of language that brings one to the role of a nation's poet laureate. 

It is a collection to be enjoyed for the work itself, but for a student of the process of writing poetry, it is a great gift.  Bowering is forthcoming in his preface with the inspiration and stories behind the poems.  Particularly generous is the final section, “Rewriting My Grandfather,” in which he explains the history of his poem, Grandfather, including its various re-writings and the situations and scenarios that led him back to re-examine the poem. 

A section entitled “Sitting in Vancouver” contains Bowering's observations of people through his travels with his wife during her treatments and surgeries.  “Imaginary Poems for AMB” is a collection of poems written for his late wife, among them: 

I wonder if you send me    

my dreams of you-- 

Did I do something that day    

to deserve your visit--       

*    *     * 

Is it when mind is empty    

and needful you come,    

a gift you were ready to give,    

a forgiveness I have held    

from myself-- 

“A, You're Adorable,” originally published under the pseudonym Ellen Field, includes a poem for each letter of the alphabet.   

While many of the works in this volume are thoughtful reflections on serious subjects, there are also brief looks with humor on life.  Among my favorites: 

While 

It took a while to get here

and when I got here

I had grown older 

Thin 41^st Ave. Poem Written on a Bookmark 

Middle-aged

beautiful woman

weighed down arms

with two plastic

grocery sacks. 

I like her more than the thin

mother trying to look sexy

as her daughter. 

Egg 

The first time she saw me crack a hard-boiled egg upon my forehead—did I vex her or delight her?  For me vexation and delight are synonymous.  As long as I am doing it. 

This paperback volume of Bowering's latest works will be cherished by fans who have longed for a new collection.  It likely will also become a textbook for students of poetry everywhere.  It should.