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Visiting Hours
The first book of poetry published by internationally renowned spoken word performer, Shane Koyczan. Includes a 5 track cd/ep featuring performances by Shane. Currently in a 2nd edition and going to a corrected and remastered 3rd edition available at end of summer 2007. Voted to *Best Books of 2005* lists in the Guardian (UK) and Globe and Mail newspapers.
- GenresPoetryCanadaNonfiction
112 pages, Paperback
First published June 19, 2013
12 people are currently reading
711 people want to read
About the author
Shane L. Koyczan
13 books501 followersShane L. Koyczan is a Canadian poet and writer. Born in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Koyczan grew up in Penticton, British Columbia. In 2000, he became the first Canadian to win the Individual Championship title at the US National Poetry Slam. Together with Mighty Mike McGee and C. R. Avery, he is the co-founder of spoken word, "talk rock" trio, Tons of Fun University (T.O.F.U.).
Koyczan performed a variation on his piece "We Are More" at the Opening Ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
Koyczan performed a variation on his piece "We Are More" at the Opening Ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
January 30, 2014
Visiting Hours is Shane Koyczan’s first collection of poetry. The collection was first published in 2005 and this eBook edition was released in 2013. It was pure chance that led me to Shane’s work – a stoush with someone on Facebook who misquoted and misinterpreted one of Koyczan’s more famous poems, We Are More. Every cloud has a silver lining though and the more I read of Koyczan’s work the more I liked.
My concern with buying a collection compiled by a spoken word poet was that it would lack some of the vibrancy, some of the presence that is present in the poet’s own performance of the work.
I needn't have worried. Koyczan in addition to being great performer of the spoken word also is able to translate that talent to the page. I received just as much enjoyment reading as I did from watching Youtube videos after I was done. The difference to me seemed only to be one of magnitude. The words carry his poetry well, the performance just turbo charges it.
In comparison to other works I have read recently, this probably sits closer to my enjoyment of the work of Ali Cobby Eckermann. Koyczan’s work frequently touches on love and loss ad is accessible to a wide audience. Some poets have labelled it trite and self consciously clever. I find the work entertaining and moving. I appreciate his rhtym and rhyme and the narrative of each of the poems. I am not left scratching my head and having to do 3 or 4 close readings to try and get a handle on what the poet is saying.
No, Koyczan uses accessible language, uses the rhyme and cadence to enhance emotion. Two of my favourite poems in the collection made my cry. That’s not something I experience much or at all reading novels or even other poems. So if he’s being trite or clever I don’t really care. I’d prefer to be skilfully manipulated than bored.
My concern with buying a collection compiled by a spoken word poet was that it would lack some of the vibrancy, some of the presence that is present in the poet’s own performance of the work.
I needn't have worried. Koyczan in addition to being great performer of the spoken word also is able to translate that talent to the page. I received just as much enjoyment reading as I did from watching Youtube videos after I was done. The difference to me seemed only to be one of magnitude. The words carry his poetry well, the performance just turbo charges it.
In comparison to other works I have read recently, this probably sits closer to my enjoyment of the work of Ali Cobby Eckermann. Koyczan’s work frequently touches on love and loss ad is accessible to a wide audience. Some poets have labelled it trite and self consciously clever. I find the work entertaining and moving. I appreciate his rhtym and rhyme and the narrative of each of the poems. I am not left scratching my head and having to do 3 or 4 close readings to try and get a handle on what the poet is saying.
No, Koyczan uses accessible language, uses the rhyme and cadence to enhance emotion. Two of my favourite poems in the collection made my cry. That’s not something I experience much or at all reading novels or even other poems. So if he’s being trite or clever I don’t really care. I’d prefer to be skilfully manipulated than bored.
March 9, 2015
Some favourites:
I've been told
that people in the army
do more by 7:00 am
than I do
in an entire day
but if I wake
at 6:59 am
and turn to you
to trace the outline of your lips
with mine
I will have done enough
and killed no one
in the process.
(from 6:59 am)
+
I am a serial lover
leaving behind fingerprints
like they were evidence
that I was there
leaving behind strands of my hair
on your sweater
when I hug you goodbye
I am slowly becoming a fact
(from afraid)
+
so we lie in bed like a mess
that someone's been meaning to clean
for the large part
of a long while
we lie there like a pile of dirty laundry
and how we'll ever come clean
is beyond me
so we don't
she says
it's supposed to be dirty
if by the end you haven't hurt me
then you didn't try
(from my darling sara)
+
and suddenly our bodies remembered
how to move
like a favourite record
you listen to
over and over again
the needle found the groove
and the music we made
played upon our bones
like those fisher price xylophones
taking us back to our childhood
when we would smile at each other
and not care why
(from no need)
+
and all of Move Pen Move.
I've been told
that people in the army
do more by 7:00 am
than I do
in an entire day
but if I wake
at 6:59 am
and turn to you
to trace the outline of your lips
with mine
I will have done enough
and killed no one
in the process.
(from 6:59 am)
+
I am a serial lover
leaving behind fingerprints
like they were evidence
that I was there
leaving behind strands of my hair
on your sweater
when I hug you goodbye
I am slowly becoming a fact
(from afraid)
+
so we lie in bed like a mess
that someone's been meaning to clean
for the large part
of a long while
we lie there like a pile of dirty laundry
and how we'll ever come clean
is beyond me
so we don't
she says
it's supposed to be dirty
if by the end you haven't hurt me
then you didn't try
(from my darling sara)
+
and suddenly our bodies remembered
how to move
like a favourite record
you listen to
over and over again
the needle found the groove
and the music we made
played upon our bones
like those fisher price xylophones
taking us back to our childhood
when we would smile at each other
and not care why
(from no need)
+
and all of Move Pen Move.
February 25, 2021
Is Shane Koyczan my favorite poet? Quite possibly.
December 31, 2021
Was afraid this would fall apart on a reread. It remains intact, but lessened, mostly according to the weakness of the non-narrative, sub-5 page "poems." There's no denying a certain simplicity to Koyczan's work — both linguistically and emotionally — but his earnestness is matched by genuine skill with alliteration and consonance, the kind of spoken-word poetry that also realizes its strength of page. More like a 3 1/2 (or 3 if I'm being really really objective), but if you read this with his buttery voice in your head, the half star boost makes sense.
July 9, 2012
People as clever as this man shouldn't be allowed to exist. It's not fair to the rest of us who want to be poets.
July 20, 2017
Many killer lines in this collection, and Koyczan manages to warm me up to rhyme, which is saying something because normally I don't like it. But I still think many of these poems work better in performance than they do on the page. He's an incredible performer, and the longer poems in which themes circle back and rhythms build—to me they're written to be spoken out loud.
June 12, 2021
I recently re-read this after not reading it since high school. This holds up as one of my favourite books of poetry ever. I feel as connected to these story’s and poems now at 29 than I did at 16. Highly recommended to anyone looking to get into reading more poetry. Also highly recommend seeing any of Shane’s readings, rather online or in person when we’re able to.
February 17, 2020
Shane has a knack for turning the mundane into something extraordinary and beautiful. He also laughs at himself when he needs to and doesn't take himself too seriously.
This book of poetry is fun, touching, and everything I have come to expect from Shane Koyczan's usual style.
This book of poetry is fun, touching, and everything I have come to expect from Shane Koyczan's usual style.
September 3, 2017
review pending
September 24, 2019
I cried
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 16, 2024
Read this book.
Read everything this man has ever written.
Listen to him speak.
I ❤️ Shane Koyczan
Read everything this man has ever written.
Listen to him speak.
I ❤️ Shane Koyczan
May 23, 2025
Reading this book has taught me that, when it comes to poetry, I like the short ones.
December 30, 2024
So I really wanted to (and expected to) love this, given how much I love Shane Koyczan's spoken word poetry. However, this book didn't quite inspire for me. There were phrases and pieces that I appreciated, but overall I struggled to connect with most of the poems. Maybe I just wasn't the right audience? I think many of these are better suited to the spoken word format and that would help bring them more to life. But on it's own, it was just okay.
September 1, 2013
Admittedly, I was never much into poetry, the little that I studied at uni aroused a mild interest but never anything that struck me as amazing. This changed rapidly when I stumbled upon 'Visiting hours' and started to watch Shane Koyczan on youtube, his poetry is moving, sentimental and funny. He'll make you weep and then start laughing, all within one verse. By far, my favourite would have to be the closing poem 'move pen move' which is a tragic and emotionally honest story about the death of his mother (I watched him perform this on youtube and couldn't stop sobbing, just a warning if you plan to do the same, which you should!)this man certainly has a way with words, read this. Just read it.
September 30, 2018
Recently I went to an outstanding performance by Shane Koyczan in our city and had forgotten about reading/ studying and re-reading Visiting Hours. His poetry is filled with heart – both his written words and his spoken word artistry. He’s a philosopher, championing the underdog and commenting on every human’s need for love, with extended metaphors and imagery and internal rhyme that surprise with their wit. Just brilliant!
“…and now I know something of how a piano must feel
when it looks at the fireplace
to see sheet music
being used for kindling
smoke signaling the end of some song
that I thought it would take too long to learn
I just sit here watching you burn away
all those notes I never had a chance to play …”
“…and now I know something of how a piano must feel
when it looks at the fireplace
to see sheet music
being used for kindling
smoke signaling the end of some song
that I thought it would take too long to learn
I just sit here watching you burn away
all those notes I never had a chance to play …”
September 29, 2011
I learned of Shayne Koyczan when he performed at the closing ceremonies at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. Since then I have been trying to acquire this book. It was a challenge. I am generally not a poetry fan, however, I love his work. It is emotional, sometimes erotic, and thought-proviking. I find his rhyming and cadence fascinating. I highly recommend this book to everyone.
August 4, 2007
This guy rocks in performance, and his poetry works just as well, if not better on the page (poohs to all you publishers who think performance poetry belongs only on the mic). He's very clever. Title poem is gorgeous.
January 1, 2014
From a genius of the spoken word tradition, Visiting Hours compiles some all-time greats and a few never-seen-before poems. Koyczan owns and wields a genius that leaves most of other poets jealously sulking.
January 11, 2010
Trite, moralistic and self-consciously clever. Obviously Koyczan can be a real crowd-pleaser, but I don't buy this stuff.
May 14, 2011
Powerful and gripping, inspirational and maddening.
July 22, 2015
A beautiful book of poetry worth being read by anyone.
January 12, 2014
Wow, just... wow.
January 6, 2014
Love his strong voice on love and other tragedies that life throws at us.
Themes of love, loss and the human condition.
Themes of love, loss and the human condition.
February 23, 2015
Thank you
I'm also a poet, but when I read poets like Shane. I have to thank you, because you show me that poetry can be found in the air.
I'm also a poet, but when I read poets like Shane. I have to thank you, because you show me that poetry can be found in the air.
August 1, 2015
Great slam poetry that was accompanied by a CD of the poems. Loved "Oh...Canada"
July 29, 2024
So powerful. Looking forward to seeing him in person next week.
September 19, 2015
Oh the feels. This made me laugh, tear up, smile and just sit in and bask in the glow of his words.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews