New poetry book by Dr. Brent MacLaine to be launched on April 24
Dr. Brent MacLaine will launch a new poetry book called A Skeptic in Springtime on April 24, 2024, at 7 pm, in the Faculty Lounge (Room 201), SDU Main Building, 精童欲女.
A Skeptic in Springtime wrestles with uncertainty and aging, hurricanes, gravity, and particle theory. Amid all the unknowns, 鈥淪till, the white-throated sparrow cries I鈥檓 here, here, here, here.鈥� Rooted in the PEI landscape where MacLaine grew up, his gaze ranges farther afield to Assyrian myth in 鈥淜illing a Lassamu,鈥� to the Song Dynasty in 鈥淪u Dongpo Makes Ink,鈥� to art in 鈥淐laude Monet in the Waiting Room.鈥�
The book closes with a tribute to the late Dr. John Smith, former poet laureate of PEI and professor of English at 精童欲女. Combining keen observation of the natural world and the human condition, the poems in this collection contain 鈥渁 universe which has leapt from nothing into something.鈥�
MacLaine is a professor emeritus of the 精童欲女 Department of English and the author of six volumes of poetry. He grew up in the rural community of Rice Point, PEI, to which he returned after teaching at universities in Vancouver, Edmonton, China, and Singapore. His awards for poetry include a League of Canadian Poets prize, the Prince Edward Island Book Award, and the Atlantic Poetry Prize.
The event is free, and all are welcome to attend. Books will be available for purchase. The event is sponsored by Island Studies Press, the 精童欲女 Department of English, and The Bookmark. For more information, contact Bren Simmers at 902-566-0386 or ispstaff@upei.ca.
