William Hawkins - Review by Kemeny Babineau

Review by: Kemeny Babineau

Dancing Alone: Selected Poems

by William Hawkins, 167 pages
Broken Jaw Press; 2005
ISBN 1-55391-034-6

Dancing Alone, Again.

FanfuckingTastic is the only way I can begin this review of Bill Hawkins' Selected Poems. Here is Canada's answer to Jack Spicer, only our version survived. From the sounds of the preface by poet friend Roy MacSkimming, Hawkins has been thru some shit, and some of it his own making, but he made it. Today Bill Hawkins, also a notable singer\songwriter, drives a blue line cab in Ottawa where he has nearly always lived -but enough about the man. Let's get to the poems.

Astounding. Raw.

Poetically, William Hawkins, by no means a household name (not even in poetry circles), can hold a candle to any of his more acknowledged peers, Purdy, Ondaatje, Newlove., even though he has published little or nothing else since 1974. Hawkins' literary career was like a rocket, up and down in a hurry, never reaching orbit.

When reading retrospective 'histories' like this I often wish the books weren't put together chronologically as this often places the weaker poems first. Unfortunately, this is so in Dancing Alone. Some of the early pieces could be better served in an appendix, afterwards, or final section.

Where the book really took off for me is with 'Spring Rain' a poem that MacSkimming quotes in its entirety in the preface. When reading I suggest skipping some of the first poems of the book and beginning with "Spring Rain;" although it should be noted that "Postage Stamps" is an early wonder. But this is all quibbling after the fact and regardless it's an amazing book. At the end, you may return and find yourself reading it again. I did. But I'm tellin' ya when you hit page 45 -hold on because Hawkins is in full flight by then with the mythopoeic in his claws. And he's not only astute, but sweetly abusive and amusing. "If I am a continual question\ you are an endless answer." (Impressions of a Mythical Being, p 47). Also included in Dancing Alone are selections from Hawkins' Ottawa Poems (originally published by Weed Flower Press in 1966), which are a landmark in that city's growing literature. Not only is the book an invigorating read but it's important as Canadian Literature.

A Mild Effort at Philosophy

Things disappear fast,
are gone, I'm trying
to replace them as fast
as I can- the plants
in the gardens, the no longer familiar
cat, past loves
& even despair.

Generally the past
is more difficult
than the future.

& I don't know
what I can say
about my lack of either.

& the present,
too immense,
provides me one more ending,
but no hint at which way
to begin.

(#7 of The Ottawa Poems)

The Ottawa poems are a tour of personal force. Heavily influenced by Olson's Maximus Poems and imbued with both the objectivist stance and the confessional mode of the era these poems are like letters out, from I to you, from the poet to the polis. The poems drift and leap, shock and disappoint, as they work through everything from philosophical questions and psychological plights to the poets place in society. But don't be fooled by these lofty topics, they emanate from the underbelly; both gritty and seedy they provide a bitter sweet sort of fruit, depending which side of the tree they fell from.

On the strength of his Ottawa Poems and earlier work Hawkins is included in Raymond Souster's important anthology New Wave Canada published in 1966. Hawkins was on the way to becoming a great Canadian poet. In the next few years he is at the peak of his artistic abilities, even as his life appears to disintegrate around him. With the Ottawa poems behind him Hawkins casts off the overt influence of Olson and settles into a voice more his own. By writing poems that are mostly centered on the self what he manages to create is a mythopoeic character that descends into the underworld. His journey into hell however is not without humour. It is humour that saves him, much of the time.

Declaration of Dependence

    I HAVE LOST MY SMALL WAR WITH GOD STOP I WRITE
    THIS SO AS TO SUE FOR PEACE STOP KNOWING UNCONDITIONAL
    SURRENDER THE ONLY TERMS AVAILABLE STOP I ACCEPT STOP

SEND COLLECT

Dancing Alone is easily a classic of Canadian Literature as it captures an era by bringing together in one single volume Hawkins' previous works. What is disappointing about this book is that there isnt more of it. And what it should do is warn us of what can happen when we look into our dark heart. What we find there may be more horrifying than what art can manage to assuage.

Before ending I have to mention how much I admire the artwork of the cover. Chris Well's black and white image is exceptional and could easily stand as a full canvas painting framed on anybody's wall. Good work. So check this book out, it's worth the cover charge.




	-- home / who's talking / review by Kemeny Babineau
	Review by: Kemeny Babineau Dancing Alone: Selected Poems by William Hawkins, 167 pages Broken Jaw Press; 2005 ISBN 1-55391-034-6 Dancing Alone, Again. FanfuckingTastic is the only way I can begin this review of Bill Hawkins' Selected Poems. Here is Canada's answer to Jack Spicer, only our version survived. From the sounds of the preface by poet friend Roy MacSkimming, Hawkins has been thru some shit, and some of it his own making, but he made it. Today Bill Hawkins, also a notable singer\songwriter, drives a blue line cab in Ottawa where he has nearly always lived -but enough about the man. Let's get to the poems. Astounding. Raw. Poetically, William Hawkins, by no means a household name (not even in poetry circles), can hold a candle to any of his more acknowledged peers, Purdy, Ondaatje, Newlove., even though he has published little or nothing else since 1974. Hawkins' literary career was like a rocket, up and down in a hurry, never reaching orbit. When reading retrospective 'histories' like this I often wish the books weren't put together chronologically as this often places the weaker poems first. Unfortunately, this is so in Dancing Alone. Some of the early pieces could be better served in an appendix, afterwards, or final section. Where the book really took off for me is with 'Spring Rain' a poem that MacSkimming quotes in its entirety in the preface. When reading I suggest skipping some of the first poems of the book and beginning with "Spring Rain;" although it should be noted that "Postage Stamps" is an early wonder. But this is all quibbling after the fact and regardless it's an amazing book. At the end, you may return and find yourself reading it again. I did. But I'm tellin' ya when you hit page 45 -hold on because Hawkins is in full flight by then with the mythopoeic in his claws. And he's not only astute, but sweetly abusive and amusing. "If I am a continual question\ you are an endless answer." (Impressions of a Mythical Being, p 47). Also included in Dancing Alone are selections from Hawkins' Ottawa Poems (originally published by Weed Flower Press in 1966), which are a landmark in that city's growing literature. Not only is the book an invigorating read but it's important as Canadian Literature. A Mild Effort at Philosophy Things disappear fast, are gone, I'm trying to replace them as fast as I can- the plants in the gardens, the no longer familiar cat, past loves & even despair. Generally the past is more difficult than the future. & I don't know what I can say about my lack of either. & the present, too immense, provides me one more ending, but no hint at which way to begin. (#7 of The Ottawa Poems) The Ottawa poems are a tour of personal force. Heavily influenced by Olson's Maximus Poems and imbued with both the objectivist stance and the confessional mode of the era these poems are like letters out, from I to you, from the poet to the polis. The poems drift and leap, shock and disappoint, as they work through everything from philosophical questions and psychological plights to the poets place in society. But don't be fooled by these lofty topics, they emanate from the underbelly; both gritty and seedy they provide a bitter sweet sort of fruit, depending which side of the tree they fell from. On the strength of his Ottawa Poems and earlier work Hawkins is included in Raymond Souster's important anthology New Wave Canada published in 1966. Hawkins was on the way to becoming a great Canadian poet. In the next few years he is at the peak of his artistic abilities, even as his life appears to disintegrate around him. With the Ottawa poems behind him Hawkins casts off the overt influence of Olson and settles into a voice more his own. By writing poems that are mostly centered on the self what he manages to create is a mythopoeic character that descends into the underworld. His journey into hell however is not without humour. It is humour that saves him, much of the time. Declaration of Dependence I HAVE LOST MY SMALL WAR WITH GOD STOP I WRITE THIS SO AS TO SUE FOR PEACE STOP KNOWING UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER THE ONLY TERMS AVAILABLE STOP I ACCEPT STOP SEND COLLECT Dancing Alone is easily a classic of Canadian Literature as it captures an era by bringing together in one single volume Hawkins' previous works. What is disappointing about this book is that there isnt more of it. And what it should do is warn us of what can happen when we look into our dark heart. What we find there may be more horrifying than what art can manage to assuage. Before ending I have to mention how much I admire the artwork of the cover. Chris Well's black and white image is exceptional and could easily stand as a full canvas painting framed on anybody's wall. Good work. So check this book out, it's worth the cover charge.