Five ‘My Life in Poetry’ Updates
April 29, 2026 /
As National Poetry Month draws to a close, I’d like to tell you what’s been happening in the poetry corner of my life recently.
- This winter CV2 published “After the Phone Call”. It started with an exercise in The Practice of Poetry, which suggested “Write a poem about your mother’s kitchen. Put the oven in it, and also something green, and something dead. You are not in the poem, but some female relation must walk into the kitchen during the course of the poem.”
- On the recommendation of two poets who’ve offered my feedback on some of my poetry — both of whom I met online through CANSCAIP — I joined the League of Canadian Poets. If you’re a writer or illustrator who is not yet a member of CANSCAIP, I urge you to join. It’s amazing the connections made possible through its many online offerings! (I can’t yet speak to the benefits of joining LCP.)
- I read Robyn Sarah’s book Little Eurekas: A Decade’s Thoughts on Poetry. Her harsh reviews made me uneasy, probably because I knew how many of my poems wouldn’t stand up to her scrutiny either. I like that she has exacting standards, not only for others but herself too. Her eloquent explanation of what distinguishes free verse from chopped up prose alone made me glad I’d bought the book.
- I’m putting together an application for a program at the Banff Centre for the Arts “Early Career Writers of Poetry,” which sounds ideally suited to where I am. Having worked there once before, I know the idea I have for a group of poems would benefit from the time and space to focus there, from faculty input, and from the spectacular natural environment in which to walk and ponder.
- Last but not least, I have received an advance copy of Boogy & Tee and Twinkle & Hew. A rollicking story inspired by Edward Lear’s “The Owl and the Pussy-Cat,” it’s about income inequality and climate change. But fear not, it’s both fun and hopeful! Not coming out till the fall, I haven’t yet created a page for it on my website, but I will soon. Who do you know who would like to read this book?
How does poetry fit into your life these days?
Share this post:
Kathy Stinson is the author of the classic Red Is Best, the award-winning The Man with the Violin, and the GG shortlisted The Rock and the Butterfly. Her wide range of titles includes picture books, fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. She has enjoyed the privilege of meeting with her readers in every province and territory of Canada, in the United States, Britain, Liberia, and Korea. Currently president of CANSCAIP (the Canadian Society of Authors, Illustrators, and Performers), Kathy lives in a small town in southern Ontario.
Posted in Kathy Stinson Books, Writing
The timing of your post is serendipitous. Last evening during a meeting of my local writing group, we were discussing poetry and how some of us (me for one) didn’t enjoy ‘modern’ poetry, even though we have studied and enjoyed poetry in the past (Dylan Thomas, Robert Frost, Alexander Pope, John Keats, etc.) It boiled down to the fact that we couldn’t make sense of it. One in our midst, Shari Green of verse novel fame (Song of Freedom, Song of Dreams and Macy MacMillan and the Rainbow Goddess), told us that the test of good poetry isn’t so much in what it tells you but in how it makes you feel. With that in mind, I’d say your poem is very successful, because I could feel the family’s loss, especially the mother — stiff inside her peach sweater. Nicely done. Thanks for sharing.
What fun it would be to sit around talking poetry, writing of any kind really, with you and Shari Green. I enjoyed her reading of Savor the Sky at the Picture Book Party the other night. I appreciate what Shari said, that what matters in a poem is how it makes you feel, and I appreciate your comment on “After the Phone Call” too. You’d enjoy Robyn Sarah’s book of essays, I think, given your feeling about much modern poetry — and her poetry too. At least some of it. I find that even when I find a poet whose work I love, I don’t absolutely love every single poem. As much has to do with what the reader brings to the words on the page, as with the words themselves. I guess that’s true of any writing, isn’t it.
I don’t understand a lot of poetry, but I showed your poem to a friend, and it led to an interesting conversation about poetry. I guess that’s poetry fitting into my life, right: 🙂
It would have been fun to be a fly on the wall for that conversation! 😀
Fabulous as is all that you write. I am loving The Rock and the Butterfly and sharing it with my reader friends.
Every writer needs as devoted a reader in their life as you are, Wendy. Thank you.
I hoped The Rock and the Butterfly would resonate for readers of any age, readers in your position. I’m glad it does, for you.