Anna Swanson
@annajswan.bsky.social
Writer + Librarian + Wild Swimming + Free Palestine | The Garbage Poems (Brick 2025) | The Nights Also (Tightrope 2010) | annaswanson.ca | garbagepoems.com | she/her 🏳️🌈 🍉
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Anna Swanson
@annajswan.bsky.social
· May 12
Exciting news—my new book has a cover!!! Art by April White. Design by Natalie Olsen. 🩷🩷🩷
And… my publisher has agreed to print the illustrations in full colour! If you can, please support Brick Book’s pre-order campaign to cover the extra costs of colour printing: igg.me/at/garbagepo...
And… my publisher has agreed to print the illustrations in full colour! If you can, please support Brick Book’s pre-order campaign to cover the extra costs of colour printing: igg.me/at/garbagepo...
Deeply grateful for this first review and close reading of The Garbage Poems. What a profound gift it is to review poetry - not just a generosity to the author & book but also a building & sustaining of important creative community <3
Anna Swanson, The Garbage Poems
the-wood-lot.ca/2025/09/25/a...
the-wood-lot.ca/2025/09/25/a...
Anna Swanson, The Garbage Poems (Brick Books, Fall 2025)
lovingly reviewed by rob mclennan In Which We ReplaceGarbage With LoveThis place is famous for love, all brands& standards. We who come here know loveis a verb, & we love with open hands.On…
the-wood-lot.ca
October 5, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Deeply grateful for this first review and close reading of The Garbage Poems. What a profound gift it is to review poetry - not just a generosity to the author & book but also a building & sustaining of important creative community <3
Reposted by Anna Swanson
"Swanson’s poems articulate such lovely bricolage, stitching narratives as a collage of subject, accumulation & language, stitching narratives from found materials into reason, logic, story."
From @robmclennan.bsky.social's review of @annajswan.bsky.social's latest.
the-wood-lot.ca/2025/09/25/a...
From @robmclennan.bsky.social's review of @annajswan.bsky.social's latest.
the-wood-lot.ca/2025/09/25/a...
Anna Swanson, The Garbage Poems (Brick Books, Fall 2025)
lovingly reviewed by rob mclennan In Which We ReplaceGarbage With LoveThis place is famous for love, all brands& standards. We who come here know loveis a verb, & we love with open hands.On…
the-wood-lot.ca
September 30, 2025 at 1:40 PM
"Swanson’s poems articulate such lovely bricolage, stitching narratives as a collage of subject, accumulation & language, stitching narratives from found materials into reason, logic, story."
From @robmclennan.bsky.social's review of @annajswan.bsky.social's latest.
the-wood-lot.ca/2025/09/25/a...
From @robmclennan.bsky.social's review of @annajswan.bsky.social's latest.
the-wood-lot.ca/2025/09/25/a...
So delighted to see The Garbage Poems on this preview list from @49thshelf.bsky.social - and especially to share it with so many fabulous poets! I just got to hear Katherena Vermette read from Procession this week at Woody Point and it was extraordinary.
The @49thshelf.bsky.social 2025 fall #poetry preview includes works by Wendy Donawa, @danielaelza.bsky.social, @scottjackshaw.bsky.social, @johnbradymcd.bsky.social, @christinashah.bsky.social, @annajswan.bsky.social, @paulvermeersch.bsky.social, @nicolavulpe.bsky.social + more! tinyurl.com/5f7mt9ny
Most Anticipated: Our 2025 Fall Poetry Preview · Blog Post · 49th Shelf
Poetry to look forward to in the second half of 2025
tinyurl.com
August 25, 2025 at 6:06 PM
So delighted to see The Garbage Poems on this preview list from @49thshelf.bsky.social - and especially to share it with so many fabulous poets! I just got to hear Katherena Vermette read from Procession this week at Woody Point and it was extraordinary.
Just to be clear, I don't believe Canada has a "right to exist" either.
July 2, 2025 at 2:42 AM
Just to be clear, I don't believe Canada has a "right to exist" either.
Reposted by Anna Swanson
The Israeli government has effectively legalized the annexation of over 60% of the West Bank, but no one’s talking about it. Here’s what this means for Palestinians. mondoweiss.net/2025/06/isra...
Israel just changed how land ownership works in the West Bank. Here’s what that means.
The Israeli government has effectively legalized the annexation of over 60% of the West Bank, but no one’s talking about it. Here’s what this means for Palestinians.
mondoweiss.net
June 15, 2025 at 11:00 PM
The Israeli government has effectively legalized the annexation of over 60% of the West Bank, but no one’s talking about it. Here’s what this means for Palestinians. mondoweiss.net/2025/06/isra...
Have you seen the latest Riddle Fence? Poetry by @amberdawnwrites.bsky.social, @madopiano.bsky.social, SA Leger, Matthew Gwathmey, Stephen Kampa, Lucas Crawford, Christ Hutchinson, Liz Huntly/Jesch, Eva Haas + great fic/cnf too!
Preview of Amber Dawn's stunning work: riddlefence.com/feature/exce...
Preview of Amber Dawn's stunning work: riddlefence.com/feature/exce...
Issue 54: Excerpts from Buzzkill Clamshell by Amber Dawn - Riddle Fence
riddlefence.com
June 15, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Have you seen the latest Riddle Fence? Poetry by @amberdawnwrites.bsky.social, @madopiano.bsky.social, SA Leger, Matthew Gwathmey, Stephen Kampa, Lucas Crawford, Christ Hutchinson, Liz Huntly/Jesch, Eva Haas + great fic/cnf too!
Preview of Amber Dawn's stunning work: riddlefence.com/feature/exce...
Preview of Amber Dawn's stunning work: riddlefence.com/feature/exce...
Reposted by Anna Swanson
A non-fiction essay of mine was published with Riddle Fence!
It details a year in my life when my ex-husband had a psychotic break. I’m immensely proud of this essay and so grateful to RF for seeing its merit.
CW: psychosis, domestic violence, trauma.
riddlefence.com/feature/smal...
It details a year in my life when my ex-husband had a psychotic break. I’m immensely proud of this essay and so grateful to RF for seeing its merit.
CW: psychosis, domestic violence, trauma.
riddlefence.com/feature/smal...
Small Things - Riddle Fence
riddlefence.com
May 28, 2025 at 2:48 PM
A non-fiction essay of mine was published with Riddle Fence!
It details a year in my life when my ex-husband had a psychotic break. I’m immensely proud of this essay and so grateful to RF for seeing its merit.
CW: psychosis, domestic violence, trauma.
riddlefence.com/feature/smal...
It details a year in my life when my ex-husband had a psychotic break. I’m immensely proud of this essay and so grateful to RF for seeing its merit.
CW: psychosis, domestic violence, trauma.
riddlefence.com/feature/smal...
Reposted by Anna Swanson
Anna wrote about writing the Garbage Poems in Impact, our book about #women and #concussion. I’m a big fan of this project. Support Anna if you can! ualbertapress.ca/978177212581....
June 7, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Anna wrote about writing the Garbage Poems in Impact, our book about #women and #concussion. I’m a big fan of this project. Support Anna if you can! ualbertapress.ca/978177212581....
Reposted by Anna Swanson
🍉 Please help us continue to keep the thousands of eSIMs we bought active so Gazans can connect with the outside world
For more: chuffed.org/project/crip...
For more: chuffed.org/project/crip...
March 9, 2025 at 4:19 AM
🍉 Please help us continue to keep the thousands of eSIMs we bought active so Gazans can connect with the outside world
For more: chuffed.org/project/crip...
For more: chuffed.org/project/crip...
💔
every. day.
every. day.
"She was also Gaza’s youngest influencer, offering practical survival tips for daily life under bombardment, such as advice on how to cook with improvised methods when there was no gas.
'I try to bring a bit of joy to the other children so that they can forget the war. '”
'I try to bring a bit of joy to the other children so that they can forget the war. '”
Gaza’s youngest influencer aged 11 among children killed by Israeli strikes
Yaqeen Hammad offered tips for surviving life under bombardment and is just one of dozens of minors who have died
www.theguardian.com
May 27, 2025 at 3:23 AM
💔
every. day.
every. day.
Reposted by Anna Swanson
This open letter calls on @moderation.bsky.app to enact some extremely basic reforms so Palestinians can fundraise to feed their starving families without having their accounts shut down. (For ex: a simple email explaining disciplinary action.) There’s a link to the letter here in the form to sign:
Open Letter to the Bluesky Team About Their Treatment of Palestinians in Gaza .رسالة مفتوحة إلى فريق بلوسكاي بشأن تعاملهم مع الفلسطينيين في غزة
Please review the open letter here and include your name below (if you are better known on Bluesky by your handle you could use that or add it to your name.) Thank you so much for caring about this co...
docs.google.com
May 24, 2025 at 8:57 PM
This open letter calls on @moderation.bsky.app to enact some extremely basic reforms so Palestinians can fundraise to feed their starving families without having their accounts shut down. (For ex: a simple email explaining disciplinary action.) There’s a link to the letter here in the form to sign:
I think this might just be my current favourite Between The Covers podcast episode & that's saying a lot. It's been a hard time lately, for all the obvious reasons, to think into the future. Listening to this conversation is the most I've been able to in a long time & I'm grateful. This book. Wow.
What would happen to our writing, our politics, our living if we thought of land as pedagogy, theory as something embodied & kinetic? Theory of Water is the touchstone book for me this year, a map for the future.
Audio📻🌊: tinhouse.com/podcast/lean...
@biidaasamose.bsky.social @haymarketbooks.org
Audio📻🌊: tinhouse.com/podcast/lean...
@biidaasamose.bsky.social @haymarketbooks.org
Leanne Betasamosake Simpson : Theory of Water - Tin House
What would it mean for our writing, thinking, and living if we looked to land as pedagogy, or if we thought of theory as something embodied and kinetic? In Theory of Water Leanne Betasamosake Simpson ...
tinhouse.com
May 24, 2025 at 3:12 AM
I think this might just be my current favourite Between The Covers podcast episode & that's saying a lot. It's been a hard time lately, for all the obvious reasons, to think into the future. Listening to this conversation is the most I've been able to in a long time & I'm grateful. This book. Wow.
This is a gorgeous book. Seriously. Go read it. @estmcphee.bsky.social
“In Your Nature” is organized into an unholy trinity of sections populated with shape-shifting werewolves, moons and stars.
Cheryl Rossi writes.
Cheryl Rossi writes.
Step Inside One Brave Fight for Trans Life | The Tyee
Estlin McPhee’s poems reckon with their upbringing in BC’s Bible Belt and offer striking reflections on what it takes to love and be loved.
thetyee.ca
May 17, 2025 at 7:03 PM
This is a gorgeous book. Seriously. Go read it. @estmcphee.bsky.social
Exciting news—my new book has a cover!!! Art by April White. Design by Natalie Olsen. 🩷🩷🩷
And… my publisher has agreed to print the illustrations in full colour! If you can, please support Brick Book’s pre-order campaign to cover the extra costs of colour printing: igg.me/at/garbagepo...
And… my publisher has agreed to print the illustrations in full colour! If you can, please support Brick Book’s pre-order campaign to cover the extra costs of colour printing: igg.me/at/garbagepo...
May 12, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Exciting news—my new book has a cover!!! Art by April White. Design by Natalie Olsen. 🩷🩷🩷
And… my publisher has agreed to print the illustrations in full colour! If you can, please support Brick Book’s pre-order campaign to cover the extra costs of colour printing: igg.me/at/garbagepo...
And… my publisher has agreed to print the illustrations in full colour! If you can, please support Brick Book’s pre-order campaign to cover the extra costs of colour printing: igg.me/at/garbagepo...
Not an accident. Not a natural disaster. Not a humanitarian crisis. Not a tragic or unintended side-effect. Not a famine. (drawing by weirdmomart on IG.)
May 12, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Not an accident. Not a natural disaster. Not a humanitarian crisis. Not a tragic or unintended side-effect. Not a famine. (drawing by weirdmomart on IG.)
I've been heartbroken to watch this news unfold. Sending love to the Filipinx community and everyone affected. I am also struggling to understand what the police consider to be an act of terror, given how quickly they decided this was not one.
Much love for Filipinx comrades and community impacted by horrific violence during Lapu-Lapu Day celebrations.
For ppl seeking support such as meal train or counseling, you can access resources thru Filipinx-led mutual aid network coming together.
Share widely:
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
For ppl seeking support such as meal train or counseling, you can access resources thru Filipinx-led mutual aid network coming together.
Share widely:
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Filipino Emergency Response - Request Form
If you need support, please enter your contact information below. Please note, that this is not an immediate service and one of our members will try our best to reach out to you as soon as we can.
I...
docs.google.com
April 28, 2025 at 8:50 PM
I've been heartbroken to watch this news unfold. Sending love to the Filipinx community and everyone affected. I am also struggling to understand what the police consider to be an act of terror, given how quickly they decided this was not one.
So excited about this launch on Wed hosted by @anotherstoryto.bsky.social. The books all look amazing, but I was lucky enough to have the chance to read Buzzkill Clamshell by @amberdawnwrites.bsky.social pre-pub & I can tell you it's truly spectacular. Tickets: www.eventbrite.ca/e/arsenal-pu...
Arsenal Pulp Spring Poetry Launch: jaye simpson, Kyo Lee, and Amber Dawn
Join us for a triple poetry launch from Arsenal Pulp Press: jaye simpson, Kyo Lee, and Amber Dawn! Hosted by Kai Cheng Thom.
www.eventbrite.ca
April 28, 2025 at 3:00 AM
So excited about this launch on Wed hosted by @anotherstoryto.bsky.social. The books all look amazing, but I was lucky enough to have the chance to read Buzzkill Clamshell by @amberdawnwrites.bsky.social pre-pub & I can tell you it's truly spectacular. Tickets: www.eventbrite.ca/e/arsenal-pu...
Excited to be reading some garbage poems at the online launch of The Goose's "Waste" issue TOMORROW (Saturday) at 10am PT/1pm ET. Register (free) below. Join us for some thrash-themed art and writing. And check out that cover art by April White!!
www.eventbrite.ca/e/the-goose-...
www.eventbrite.ca/e/the-goose-...
April 26, 2025 at 4:56 AM
Excited to be reading some garbage poems at the online launch of The Goose's "Waste" issue TOMORROW (Saturday) at 10am PT/1pm ET. Register (free) below. Join us for some thrash-themed art and writing. And check out that cover art by April White!!
www.eventbrite.ca/e/the-goose-...
www.eventbrite.ca/e/the-goose-...
Last day for advance polls. PLEASE VOTE even if the system sucks.
Useful resources:
Palestine Platform: votepalestine.ca
Help w/ strategic voting: smartvoting.ca
Remember YOU DON'T NEED TO VOTE STRATEGICALLY IN MOST RIDINGS. Only if Conservatives are in danger of winning b/c of a split vote 🧵
Useful resources:
Palestine Platform: votepalestine.ca
Help w/ strategic voting: smartvoting.ca
Remember YOU DON'T NEED TO VOTE STRATEGICALLY IN MOST RIDINGS. Only if Conservatives are in danger of winning b/c of a split vote 🧵
April 21, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Last day for advance polls. PLEASE VOTE even if the system sucks.
Useful resources:
Palestine Platform: votepalestine.ca
Help w/ strategic voting: smartvoting.ca
Remember YOU DON'T NEED TO VOTE STRATEGICALLY IN MOST RIDINGS. Only if Conservatives are in danger of winning b/c of a split vote 🧵
Useful resources:
Palestine Platform: votepalestine.ca
Help w/ strategic voting: smartvoting.ca
Remember YOU DON'T NEED TO VOTE STRATEGICALLY IN MOST RIDINGS. Only if Conservatives are in danger of winning b/c of a split vote 🧵
Reposted by Anna Swanson
If not yet familiar with the work of @farzanadoctor.bsky.social, she is a social worker & writer whose webinar on burnout, vicarious trauma, & self & community care was cancelled by the Canadian Association of Social Workers, so if you also support Palestine, please email them! 🍉
bit.ly/lettertocasw
bit.ly/lettertocasw
April 18, 2025 at 1:21 AM
If not yet familiar with the work of @farzanadoctor.bsky.social, she is a social worker & writer whose webinar on burnout, vicarious trauma, & self & community care was cancelled by the Canadian Association of Social Workers, so if you also support Palestine, please email them! 🍉
bit.ly/lettertocasw
bit.ly/lettertocasw
Heading out to the Advance Polls to vote now. PLEASE VOTE.
Useful resources:
Palestine Platform: votepalestine.ca
Help w/ strategic voting: smartvoting.ca
Remember - YOU DON'T NEED TO VOTE STRATEGICALLY IN MOST RIDINGS. Only if Conservatives are in danger of winning b/c of a split vote.
Useful resources:
Palestine Platform: votepalestine.ca
Help w/ strategic voting: smartvoting.ca
Remember - YOU DON'T NEED TO VOTE STRATEGICALLY IN MOST RIDINGS. Only if Conservatives are in danger of winning b/c of a split vote.
April 18, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Heading out to the Advance Polls to vote now. PLEASE VOTE.
Useful resources:
Palestine Platform: votepalestine.ca
Help w/ strategic voting: smartvoting.ca
Remember - YOU DON'T NEED TO VOTE STRATEGICALLY IN MOST RIDINGS. Only if Conservatives are in danger of winning b/c of a split vote.
Useful resources:
Palestine Platform: votepalestine.ca
Help w/ strategic voting: smartvoting.ca
Remember - YOU DON'T NEED TO VOTE STRATEGICALLY IN MOST RIDINGS. Only if Conservatives are in danger of winning b/c of a split vote.
My friend just send me this essay by @davidnaimon.bsky.social, just in time for Pesach, and it's truly extraordinary. Deeply moving meditation on some of my favourite preoccupations including memory, water, mikveh & Miriam. Can't do it justice here - go read it!
www.ecotheo.org/etreview/may...
www.ecotheo.org/etreview/may...
May Your Memory Be a Blessing — EcoTheo Collective
Remember the before? Member You must remain offshore, on your boat, for 40 days before you can come ashore. You must stay apart from us in a confined space, for a quarantino , a span of 40 da...
www.ecotheo.org
April 11, 2025 at 1:46 AM
My friend just send me this essay by @davidnaimon.bsky.social, just in time for Pesach, and it's truly extraordinary. Deeply moving meditation on some of my favourite preoccupations including memory, water, mikveh & Miriam. Can't do it justice here - go read it!
www.ecotheo.org/etreview/may...
www.ecotheo.org/etreview/may...