Uncivilizing

Don Precosky teaches English at the College of New Caledonia and is the
co-editor of Four Realities: Poets of Northern B.C.

Uncivilizing is a selection of work by six mature poets: Caroline
Davidson, Sonja Dunn, Bernice Lever, Roger Nash, James Reaney, and
Robert Sward. If the editor’s introduction is to believed, the book
represents an act of rebellion against today’s cult of youth: not one
of these poets is under 30.

Anything that expands the repertoire of Canadian poetry is a good
thing, but there are few new discoveries in this collection. Two of the
six poets, Sward and Reaney, are simply continuing long and successful
careers, while of the other four contributions, only Sonja Dunn’s is
successful. Dunn writes mainly of her recollections of being the child
of an immigrant family and the difficulties that can cause. Sward too
draws upon memories, though his rely on a wider variety of situations;
most poignant are “Turning Sixty” and “On My Way to the Korean
War.” And what can I say about James Reaney except that, though he is
in his 70s, he can still surprise me with a turn of phrase. The man may
be growing older, but he doesn’t seem to be getting old.