The More Easily Kept Illusions: The Poetry of Al Purdy.

Thomas M.F. Gerry is a professor of English (Canadian Literature) at
Laurentian University.

The Laurier Poetry series’ website claims that the series intends to introduce “the excitement of contemporary Canadian poetry to an audience that might not otherwise have access to it.” Apparently, with this volume and with the Louis Dudek volume, the “contemporary” aspect of the series’ intention has been set aside. In his introduction, series editor Neil Besner emphasizes Canadian poetry’s need to be appreciated in Canada as much as he says that it is appreciated abroad. To that end, Robert Budde offers an introduction that Budde says Purdy does not need but deserves. Addressing readers already acquainted with this “great Canadian poet” and also those who have not yet tasted “the Purdy elixir,” Budde briefly locates Purdy’s poetics, in 1960s Canadian modernism, and summarizes some of the critical response to Purdy’s work.

At times in his introduction, Budde seems to be trying to imitate what he calls Purdy’s “learned hick” persona. On the hick side: “When I read Al Purdy poems I say, ‘Hi, Al.’ And he says ‘Hi’ back.” Budde is generally far more successful with the learned side of his own persona. He describes Purdy’s “speaking” poetics effectively, for example, as well as Purdy’s techniques of juxtaposing vulgar language with “poetically dense language.” Creative writing teachers could find practical Budde’s idea of focusing on ways to end poems. Budde writes with refreshing contempt for the so-called “Canadian-ness” of Purdy. Explaining his choices for the short anthology to follow, Budde admits that elements of some of Purdy’s poems are sexist and racist. Controversially, though, he does not simply censor this material, because he believes that this sort of thinking still exists and needs to be revised.

Russell Brown’s afterword complements Budde’s introduction and the Purdy poems by adding accounts of Brown’s personal interactions with the poet. Brown partly creates the additional dimension to readers’ appreciation of Purdy by approaching some of Budde’s themes differently. For instance, where Budde says “learned hick,” Brown says that “Purdy lived a life divided between the poles of intellect and the physical world.” Together, the two formulations work well to arouse interest.