Hawksley Burns For Isadora

by Hawksley Workman, Beverley Hawksley (Illustrations)

Quite possibly the coolest thing to come out of Canada. – Time Out This strange blending of prose and poetry is a collection of enigmatic love letters to an elusive object of affection that first appeared in the classified ads of two Toronto newspapers. Stirring curious interest and provoking strong responses, these romantic notes capture one side of a fascinatingly eccentric love affair. Exquisitely rendered paintings combine with lushly written missives to offer a tantalizing peek into the intimate intricacies of a deeply felt love from a lauded musician whose lyrics have been praised as exotic, daring, vulnerable, brilliant, and weird. 2002 tour planned in support of Workman’s new musical release • A finalist for the Pearson Canada Reader’s Choice Award • Winner of Best New Solo Artist and Best Video at 2002 Juno Awards

Genres: Poetry, Fiction, Canada

62 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I wish to be your favourite stone. So quiet I’m not there. A lover so dear, you would abandon all else. A quiet so quiet that you have never heard. Such quiet it could lull a clumsy, ugly world to sleep in its arms.”

If you don't like Hawksley's music (or prose poetry), you won't like this. These letters could've been a song off his first album: a little emo, a little dramatic. This is a small book of longing and nude drawings (not my favourite), less about bodies and more about vulnerability; the kind you might have felt yourself in 2001, when you were younger and believed more fiercely in the possibility of being completely known by another person.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hawksley Burns for Isadora was beautiful and haunting. It's a very small book, with strange illustrations (not my favorites, but maybe they're more impressive in their original form, rather than reprinted - it just looks kind of drab on the page), but it takes a long time to read. You have to savor it. You can't just fly through, because a speed-read will render the poetic meaning insensible - you have to digest each letter. I read three or four in a sitting. These are absolutely beautiful, and really reflect the poetic sensibility of some of his songs (particularly on albums like Almost A Full Moon).

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't absolutely love every poem so I wont give it 5 stars, but, damn, Hawksley, you've pretty much ruined me for any man or woman out there. How much do I wish someone out there was so inspired to write such beautiful love poems to me?
"Let us kiss while spider's tongues twist to taste our toes"
"Can we be wooden wheels splintering on this rocky route?"
"Well let me say this: there looks as if there might be a good reason to melt spoons into bullets, to pull together the armour, or better yet, to strip absolutely naked in the face of this fear-maker, and let the truth of our beauty do the talking".
Read this book now, if you haven't.

[Writer's Relief · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the book jacket states, not quite poetry and not quite prose—but these are love letters written for a woman whom Workman obviously cares deeply and loves passionately. Whether Isadora is real or not, who’s to say? The meaning behind Workman’s words speak enough to his readers. Some of these letters twinkle with nature romanticism, and others dazzle with fruit eroticism. These letters are paired beautifully with the black-and-white feminine images painted by Beverly Workman.

[lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

a book of love letters from hawksley to his mermaid-muse. accompanied by paintings by his mother, beverley hawksley. beautiful beautiful beautiful.

"isadora,
how can you be so patient with me? i will open wide. trust that i will open wide enough to drink you into my guts. how can i be lost in this muck? you've spread your love so fair and true before me..."

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's one thing to listen to Hawksley Workman's music, but a totally different and wonderful experience to read his writing. This book was my early introduction to what I guess you could consider prose poetry, but it goes beyond both genres and into something lush that feels like someone is whispering the words into your ear.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

sigh.... :)

[Peace · Rating 2 out of 5]

Occasionally beautiful, but might have been better if it was at all comprehensible.

The artwork was pretty, though.

[Royce Vavrek · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are many beautiful phrases and ideas in Workman's prose-poetry, but the cumulative effect of his language was lacking for me.

[Norb Aikin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book...one I've read many times before I found Goodreads and recently reread it for an offsite blog entry. His lyrics and poems are no different, full of romantic longing and passion. I've given copies of this book to many friends, as well as copies of his cds, because I admire him that much and think his music and words should be shared and heard by many.