Voir Dire

Sheila Martindale is poetry editor of Canadian Author and Bookman and
the author of No Greater Love.

This is protest poetry plus! Flaming has something to say about social
ills, political situation, poverty, injustice—the list goes on. The
poems, which appear in three general sections—Breakfast Poems, Bedtime
Poems, and Place Poems—are gritty, immediate, in-your-face pieces.
While there is anger here, there is also love (both heterosexual and
homosexual), questing, and admiration for the natural world. One
particularly moving poem, “Clearcut,” is about logging in British
Columbia. You may not like the tone of some of these poems, or the
content of others, but this poet makes you sit up and take notice. At
times it seems as if her pen runs away with her, but this is part of
what grabs your attention. A most refreshing read.