What You Used to Wear

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

Descriptions of the natural world dominate this collection—the
poet’s first. There is a sameness to the tone of these poems, so that
no particular piece stands out. The writing is well-crafted and
understated, with no words wasted and no excess verbiage. But what works
well in one way also has disadvantages. The reader can see the pictures,
but not really understand how the poet feels about the images she
portrays. If passion is present here, it has to be excavated from the
landscape. Perhaps this has something to do with the fact that Cadeau is
an academic, whose writing appeals to the brain rather than the heart.
This book will be enjoyed by those who can relate to the land and who
are prepared to invest some time and energy tapping into the poet’s
grey matter.