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Asking
"Asking" is a collection of poems and poem-essays about paintings, ekphrasis, beauty, and deep looking which takes its title from the lines by Phyllis Webb: "Listen. If I have known beauty / let's say I came to it / asking." Conversations on the page arise from observances made at cocktail parties, art galleries, at the kitchen table, and in the suburbs. Whether offering writing prompts or advice for aspiring poets, or enacting the conventions of ekphrasis, "Asking" is attentive to the movements and gestures of humans as they navigate a world of bewilderments and betrayal, but also a world of light and an ordinary beauty.
114 pages, Paperback
First published March 15, 2014
About the author
Shawna Lemay
14 books84 followers"A lamp and a flower pot in the center. The flower can always be changing." –Virginia Woolf.
The Flower Can Always Be Changing:
From the bestselling author of Rumi and the Red Handbag comes a new collection of brief essays about the intersection of poetry, painting, photography and beauty. Inspired by the words of Virginia Woolf, Lemay welcomes you into her home, her art and her life as a poet and photographer of the every day. Lemay shares visits to the museum with her daughter, the beauty in an average workday at the library, and encourages writers and readers to make an appointment with flowers, with life.
Rumi and the Red Handbag was shortlisted for the Alberta Readers Choice Award. All the God-Sized Fruit, her first book, won the Stephan G. Stephansson Award and the Gerald Lampert Memorial Award. Calm Things: Essays was shortlisted for the Wilfred Eggleston Award for Non-Fiction. She has an M.A. in English from the University of Alberta.
The Flower Can Always Be Changing:
From the bestselling author of Rumi and the Red Handbag comes a new collection of brief essays about the intersection of poetry, painting, photography and beauty. Inspired by the words of Virginia Woolf, Lemay welcomes you into her home, her art and her life as a poet and photographer of the every day. Lemay shares visits to the museum with her daughter, the beauty in an average workday at the library, and encourages writers and readers to make an appointment with flowers, with life.
Rumi and the Red Handbag was shortlisted for the Alberta Readers Choice Award. All the God-Sized Fruit, her first book, won the Stephan G. Stephansson Award and the Gerald Lampert Memorial Award. Calm Things: Essays was shortlisted for the Wilfred Eggleston Award for Non-Fiction. She has an M.A. in English from the University of Alberta.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 8, 2016
The publisher refers to this as, "a collection of poems and poem-essays ..."
This line by Phyllis Webb is the inspiration for the title and some of the books narrative:
"Listen. If I have known beauty / let's say I came to it / asking."
I've had this book for at least a year and don't know why on earth it's taken me so long to get to the beauty within. I happen to also love reading the author's blog, "Calm Things" so it's no wonder I am so taken with these lovely poem-essays and poems about art, beauty, cocktail parties, *ekphrasis and even the ordinary. Each one is like a separate leaf on a tree ... different shape, colour, texture, size, and each one a unique individual.
I will be keeping this at my bedside table so I can re-read many of these lovely 'leaves'. For this is the type of book you wish to re-read, savour, and contemplate.
If you enjoy Lemay's blog, Calm Things, you'll love the book. If you love the book, you'll want to check out her blog.
* ekphrasis -- basically description of a work of art, but for a more detailed definition visit http://www.poetryfoundation.org/learn...
This line by Phyllis Webb is the inspiration for the title and some of the books narrative:
"Listen. If I have known beauty / let's say I came to it / asking."
I've had this book for at least a year and don't know why on earth it's taken me so long to get to the beauty within. I happen to also love reading the author's blog, "Calm Things" so it's no wonder I am so taken with these lovely poem-essays and poems about art, beauty, cocktail parties, *ekphrasis and even the ordinary. Each one is like a separate leaf on a tree ... different shape, colour, texture, size, and each one a unique individual.
I will be keeping this at my bedside table so I can re-read many of these lovely 'leaves'. For this is the type of book you wish to re-read, savour, and contemplate.
If you enjoy Lemay's blog, Calm Things, you'll love the book. If you love the book, you'll want to check out her blog.
* ekphrasis -- basically description of a work of art, but for a more detailed definition visit http://www.poetryfoundation.org/learn...
March 9, 2019
Enjoyed this book very much. I am prejudiced though, because I'm a fan. Love her style of writing essays and enjoy her honesty. I always think it takes courage to write personal essays. I've enjoyed each one of Lemay's books I've read. I underlined and dog-eared (sorry) many pages of Asking. Standouts: Residue; Transactions with Beauty: A Sonnet; Pack of Smokes (Description); just to name a few.
September 5, 2015
The writing so was beautiful! I love Canadian poets! The meta poetry never got old and the language flowed and broke apart when it needed too. "Library For Birds" hit pretty close to home (teared up a little). It's been awhile since I've read anything so moving. Excellent!
December 23, 2020
Ekphrasis is one of my favorite artistic topics, and this book is a perfect addition to my collection on the topic. This inspired, elegant volume was like walking through an art gallery with a good friend who quietly beckons to share a favorite work of art, and then dishing about the work and the artist's vision and methods over a cuppa in the museum café afterwards.
My favorite chapters are: "Swoon," "Expresso," "Calm," "A Sonnet," "Bewilderments," "Poetry Is," "Seven Remembered Still Lifes," and "Attuned (The Museum Guard Speaks)," although I found passages in every chapter that had such resonance I slowed in my reading to admire her insights.
I read this book over a wintry, four-day cold spell with snow, which perfectly meshed with some of the imagery from the book.
A ruminative collection of poem-essays and poems, Lemay's book inspired many underlines and margin notes as well as head nods as I read and savored. The author's depth and passion for the visual and written arts shines through on each page. Excellent allusions and quotes throughout.
If writing about art, paintings, poetry, the artistic process, and ekphrasis are your favorites, too, this book is highly recommended as a resource and an inspiration. Kudos! :)
My favorite chapters are: "Swoon," "Expresso," "Calm," "A Sonnet," "Bewilderments," "Poetry Is," "Seven Remembered Still Lifes," and "Attuned (The Museum Guard Speaks)," although I found passages in every chapter that had such resonance I slowed in my reading to admire her insights.
I read this book over a wintry, four-day cold spell with snow, which perfectly meshed with some of the imagery from the book.
A ruminative collection of poem-essays and poems, Lemay's book inspired many underlines and margin notes as well as head nods as I read and savored. The author's depth and passion for the visual and written arts shines through on each page. Excellent allusions and quotes throughout.
If writing about art, paintings, poetry, the artistic process, and ekphrasis are your favorites, too, this book is highly recommended as a resource and an inspiration. Kudos! :)
July 13, 2014
Gorgeous writing.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews