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Hymnswitch
Hello, My Forever Ago, don't worry,
you won't be reading this much longer.
You will have already returned
in a snowcloud, which is suggestively,
fashionably, only ever one second old.
Yes, Darling, it's me, it says
as proof that in space,
though there are many silences,
fleeting isn't the opposite
of infinite, but its perfect match.
Four years ago, Ali Blythe arrived with Twoism, a remarkable debut collection, every line shimmering with life and shivering with erotically charged glimpses of completeness. Now in Hymnswitch, Blythe takes up the themes of identity and the body once again, this time casting an eye backwards and forwards, visiting places of recovery and wrestling with the transition into one's own skin. Readers will find themselves holding their breath at the risk and beauty and difficulty of the balance Blythe strikes in the midst of ineffable complexity.
Combining a stark, tensile precision with musicality that lulls and surprises, Blythe, a?surreal engineer of language, has once again created an unusually memorable collection. Imbued with emotional awareness, these stunning poems will imprint readers with startling images and silences as potent as words.
you won't be reading this much longer.
You will have already returned
in a snowcloud, which is suggestively,
fashionably, only ever one second old.
Yes, Darling, it's me, it says
as proof that in space,
though there are many silences,
fleeting isn't the opposite
of infinite, but its perfect match.
Four years ago, Ali Blythe arrived with Twoism, a remarkable debut collection, every line shimmering with life and shivering with erotically charged glimpses of completeness. Now in Hymnswitch, Blythe takes up the themes of identity and the body once again, this time casting an eye backwards and forwards, visiting places of recovery and wrestling with the transition into one's own skin. Readers will find themselves holding their breath at the risk and beauty and difficulty of the balance Blythe strikes in the midst of ineffable complexity.
Combining a stark, tensile precision with musicality that lulls and surprises, Blythe, a?surreal engineer of language, has once again created an unusually memorable collection. Imbued with emotional awareness, these stunning poems will imprint readers with startling images and silences as potent as words.
72 pages, Paperback
First published March 19, 2019
45 people want to read
About the author
Ali Blythe
5 books20 followersAli Blythe is author of critically acclaimed poetry collections that explore trans-poetics.
His poems and essays have been published in national and international literary journals
and anthologies, including The Broadview Introduction to Literature,
Best Canadian Essays, and Best Canadian Poetry.
He has held roles as guest editor for special editions of literary magazines including for the League of Canadian Poets, Arc Magazine and the Malahat Review, and as editor-in-chief for the Claremont Review, an international literary magazine for youth.
Blythe is a winner of the Vallum Award for Poetry, twice finalist for the Dorothy Livesay BC Book Award, and recipient of an honour of distinction from the Writers Trust of Canada for emerging 2SLGBTQ+ writers.
Hymnswitch was named one of the best books of 2019 the Walrus.
His poems and essays have been published in national and international literary journals
and anthologies, including The Broadview Introduction to Literature,
Best Canadian Essays, and Best Canadian Poetry.
He has held roles as guest editor for special editions of literary magazines including for the League of Canadian Poets, Arc Magazine and the Malahat Review, and as editor-in-chief for the Claremont Review, an international literary magazine for youth.
Blythe is a winner of the Vallum Award for Poetry, twice finalist for the Dorothy Livesay BC Book Award, and recipient of an honour of distinction from the Writers Trust of Canada for emerging 2SLGBTQ+ writers.
Hymnswitch was named one of the best books of 2019 the Walrus.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 19, 2019
My god, what an incredible collection of poetry. Deals with topics including transitioning, gender and sobriety. I loved this book!
August 27, 2019
This is a such a beautiful book. The word choice and structure of each piece is expertly curated. There is a pace that the speaker insists you read and the delineation and punctuation seamlessly allows you to follow along.
There are so many layers to this book, but I was particularly drawn to and captivated by the theme of addiction recovery, as I continue to learn how to cope with my own personal struggles in that regard.
This is such a tender collection that wraps you in its complexities and musicality.
There are so many layers to this book, but I was particularly drawn to and captivated by the theme of addiction recovery, as I continue to learn how to cope with my own personal struggles in that regard.
This is such a tender collection that wraps you in its complexities and musicality.
September 10, 2023
A beautiful work of “trans-poetics.” Hymnswitch explores identity, addiction, love, and the fragility of human experience. Definitely recommend.
September 3, 2019
Beautiful, lyrical.
Truly enjoyable to read
Truly enjoyable to read
December 12, 2020
Blythe's second poetry collection. Poetry that looks at addiction and recovery, gender and transition. This was wonderful.
January 29, 2026
I have a better appreciation for this book and how it examines gender and struggle, now that most people know I'm trans.
The lyrical musings on addiction and recovery and how he sees himself are truly lyrical, and it quiets my mind in a strange way.
The lyrical musings on addiction and recovery and how he sees himself are truly lyrical, and it quiets my mind in a strange way.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews