sublingual.

With his own style of language, formatting, and illustrating, bill bissett presents his poetry and prose pieces without capitalization, punctuation, or standardized English spelling. He is a great grandson of the American poet, e.e. cummings. At first, his poems are difficult reading material. Yet the very effort of slowing down one’s reading caused by one’s sounding aloud each word—even letter—makes his poems more effective. Most poets wish their readers would savour their words this slowly as that creates more meaningful messages. bissett’s readers benefit from pausing between groups of words to consider their multiple meanings or connections.

In “sublingual,” bissett explores his relationships with his younger self, others, his urban and rural landscapes, the entire universe past, present, and future with all his questioning about the essence of beliefs, of life. In “thers sumthing sew familyar abt life,” bissett meditates on his feelings of life being comfortable as “if i alredee belongd.” bissett’s fine poems revel in the beautiful natural world with its sunrises and sunsets lighting up its many seasonal differences. bissett helps readers regain their awe of non-human elements on this planet. His “polar bears on yonge street” is a cry to save the bear’s environment, not drive them into foraging in cities.

His love poems for men delineate not only the joys of lust but also the pains of loss as well as the sustaining, supportive friendships he develops. In “can you heer the nite,” bissett writes, “what’s carnal, what’s divine /// til I dance with yu in th melodie.”

His triple talents as visual artist, musician, and poet enrich this book. He calls words, “verbal kostuming” which hinder our listening to each other’s prayers, even our understanding.