Celebrating Canadian Poetry and Lyrics about Love
My first understanding of romantic love was from watching Canadian filmmaker James Cameron's Titanic at a young age. I let what were then considered the gut-wrenching melodies of Celine Dion wash over me as I imagined what it could be to be so tragically entwined with someone like Jack and Rose. This notion of romance and love, clichéd and overwrought but somehow poignant and universal, stayed with me throughout my formative years, and it wasn't until decades later that another great Canadian mind would shake the foundations of what I knew about love.
On the recommendation of a friend whose taste has always been proven to be impeccable, I picked up a copy of Eros the Bittersweet by multi-talented and celebrated Canadian poet Anne Carson. I devoured her words with a hungry eagerness as it renewed in me a love of literature and poetry. Officially a book of criticism, her particular way of prose, intermingled with passages of poetry, traces the genealogy of Eros as a term and idea that stems from Ancient Greece and paints the geometry of desire as a triangle exemplified in the writings of Sappho, a quintessential work of queer literature. A complex and rich take on an age-old topic, it opened the door to multifaceted considerations of love, romance and intimacy, both in my personal and academic life.
Simeon Solomon, Sappho and Erinna in a Garden at Mytilene, 1864. Creative Commons CC-BY-NC-ND (3.0 Unported).
As we approach Valentine’s Day 2022, I’m thinking again of the lyricists, writers and poets who are an authority on a dimension of love that many of us are incapable of expressing. These range from the wonderfully familiar if not slightly cheesy renditions of love songs, to the poetry that unveils a love that is laced with trauma. These words are about lovers and friends, about self-love or love of community. We share with you these poems and lyrics in the days coming up to 14 February, carefully composed by Canadian talents that we hope will bring you an as-of-yet undiscovered universality of love.
Nicole Lyons - Cosmic Things
Award-winning Canadian poet Nicole Lyons creates worlds at once achingly familiar and harrowingly out of reach with her incisive dance of words. Her poetry has explored the delicate tensions between love and mental health, an urgent topic that has only been explored openly in recent years. Lyons’ collection of writing is extensive, filling several published books. On the topic of love, I leave you with a beautiful verse I stumbled upon on Instagram, which transcends the notion of earthly, bodily love.
Joni Mitchell: A Case of You
We recently wrote about Joni Mitchell following her reception of the Kennedy Center Honors for lifetime contributions to culture by those in the performing arts. Her haunting lyrics rarely stray far from our minds, especially during celebrations of love. Mitchell’s love songs are many, but there’s a case to be made for A Case of You being one of her best, with lyrics that reminisce about a transformative love that continues on in memory.
Ross Belot: The Edge of Everything
What greater love can there be than the love of our Earth? Shortlisted for the 2016 CBC Poetry Prize, Ottawa-born Ross Belot’s The Edge of Everything is a caution folded into a relatable assembly of lines as much as it is a call for climate action. You can read the poem on the CBC website or in his book, Moving to Climate Change Hours.
Louise Dupré: What I will bequeath, translated by Christine Tipper
Matriarchal love is perfectly embodied in these verses. What I Will Bequeath, translated from the original French by Christine Tipper, is a feminist reclamation of the love that runs from mother to daughter and back again, ad infinitum. As Valentine’s Day is the occasion to celebrate all sorts of love, this ode to family resonates deeply with both mothers and those who have mothers. Read the full poem here.
Sarah de Leeuw: Geographies of a lover
Let’s not forget the importance of bodily pleasures on this day of love. Leading us into this territory is Sarah de Leeuw’s Geographies of a Lover, taking inspiration from the varied topographies of Canada to portray an image of intimacy that should carry a parental advisory. This book of poems presents an overt sexuality that maps the lover's body as one would a wild landscape. You can pick up the full volume or read a review here.
Gregory Scofield: I’ve Looked For You
Another startlingly sensual take on the topic of love, Metis poet Gregory Scofield’s I’ve Looked For You presents an affect both eternal and momentary, a small sampling of what his poetry book Love Medicine and One Song has the offer. Read the poem here, and purchase the book here.
Bryan Adams: Heaven
Turning towards something a little more mainstream to complete this list, there are few songs as intergenerational as this hit by celebrated Canadian musician Bryan Adams. An anthem for lovers of any age, the success of its cover by DJ Sammy in the noughties proves how versatile Adams' lyrics and melodies are, as well-suited for slow instrumentals as it is for a dance track. Who doesn’t want to be in a lover’s arms this Valentine’s Day, slow dancing (or fast dancing) to this music?