Standpoint

About the Book

Standpoint is a soft-covered book of sixty-eight pages containing thirty-nine poems. These vary in length from the seven crisp lines of the epigrammatic Spring Cleaning to the ten complex stanzas of the near-heroic "Arthropods' Song". Most poems in this collection, however, are carried on a single page.

In addressing the near-impossible task of giving old warnings in new ways, the free verse presented in Standpoint evokes a sharp sense of place and a strong sense of history. Human behaviour and characteristics are alluded to against a backdrop of non-urban landscapes, as in "Pub Lunch". "Homeric Law" and "Heliostat" remind us that what is essentially good, worthy or healthy should not be extinguished by pretension, cowardice or hubris.

Poems such as "Fire Break" and "Up-Island Cloudburst" argue that, in the long term, landscapes and events are integral to themselves despite human intervention. The repetitive or cyclical urge to meddle may be unwholesome and disruptive but all change is transitory, and humankind is but one casual ingredient in the cosmic mix.

The 5" by 7" format of this collection makes it suitable for travelling in a pocket to the moors, the forest, the beach - or a secluded sofa in your favorite coffee shop. The book also packs easily for mailing as a gift. Poems in this collection have been heard and enjoyed by listeners of most ages, from late teens to early eighties, and the poetry resonates with both women and men.

Those who shy away from reading poetry are encouraged to discover the increased dimension which this literary form achieves when read aloud. No audience is needed. Be your own auditor and reader. Use the poet's words and punctuation to interpret the poet's question, but let your own timbre and intonation discover the relevance of the diction to your viewpoint.

About the Author

Varrie Parke was born in the west of Scotland during the Second World War and graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1964. She first came to Canada in 1967 and has spent many years living and working in British Columbia. When young, her preferred form of literary expression was the essay but when she achieved semi-retirement in 2001 she began to write poetry. She believes that life works best if you assume the best, do your own thinking, and tidy up after yourself.