P.W. Bridgman, Writer
@pwbwriter1.bsky.social
Vancouver writer of poetry, fiction, literary criticism & academic articles about the law. Lover of all things Italian & Irish. Most recent of five titles: The World You Now Own (2024); Idiolect (2021); & The Four-Faced Liar (2021).
www.pwbridgman.ca
www.pwbridgman.ca
Canadians learned that lesson recently when the Toronto Blue Jays had the World Series "in the bag" until they didn't--in the second overtime inning of the seventh & final game. But, despite the loss, the upsurge in excitement & enthusiasm for the team's fine effort lives on. So not a loss, really.
November 13, 2025 at 10:59 PM
Canadians learned that lesson recently when the Toronto Blue Jays had the World Series "in the bag" until they didn't--in the second overtime inning of the seventh & final game. But, despite the loss, the upsurge in excitement & enthusiasm for the team's fine effort lives on. So not a loss, really.
Perhaps the presence of a ghost qualifies a poem as "spooky" & worthy of posting on a rainy Hallowe'en?
"You Have a Visitor, Sir" features Philip Larkin, a talking parrot called "Lickspittle," an undertaker called "Mr. Bottle"... Something for everyone.
"You Have a Visitor, Sir" features Philip Larkin, a talking parrot called "Lickspittle," an undertaker called "Mr. Bottle"... Something for everyone.
October 31, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Perhaps the presence of a ghost qualifies a poem as "spooky" & worthy of posting on a rainy Hallowe'en?
"You Have a Visitor, Sir" features Philip Larkin, a talking parrot called "Lickspittle," an undertaker called "Mr. Bottle"... Something for everyone.
"You Have a Visitor, Sir" features Philip Larkin, a talking parrot called "Lickspittle," an undertaker called "Mr. Bottle"... Something for everyone.
Did you know that Tess Gallagher formed an enduring friendship & poetic axis with Ciaran Carson in the mid-1970s? CC admired her writing & Irish subject matter is plentiful in her poetry. She read at his memorial in 2020. Clip from an interview circa 2007 is attached.
inside.ewu.edu/willowspring...
inside.ewu.edu/willowspring...
October 20, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Did you know that Tess Gallagher formed an enduring friendship & poetic axis with Ciaran Carson in the mid-1970s? CC admired her writing & Irish subject matter is plentiful in her poetry. She read at his memorial in 2020. Clip from an interview circa 2007 is attached.
inside.ewu.edu/willowspring...
inside.ewu.edu/willowspring...
A new collection by @annajswan.bsky.social, entitled The Garbage Poems, has been released by Brick Books. This is big CanLit news!
Anna's about to begin a cross-Canada reading tour. See the events page on Anna's website for dates & times. Vancouverites: 29 Oct, 6:30, Iron Dog Books
annaswanson.ca
Anna's about to begin a cross-Canada reading tour. See the events page on Anna's website for dates & times. Vancouverites: 29 Oct, 6:30, Iron Dog Books
annaswanson.ca
October 15, 2025 at 2:48 AM
A new collection by @annajswan.bsky.social, entitled The Garbage Poems, has been released by Brick Books. This is big CanLit news!
Anna's about to begin a cross-Canada reading tour. See the events page on Anna's website for dates & times. Vancouverites: 29 Oct, 6:30, Iron Dog Books
annaswanson.ca
Anna's about to begin a cross-Canada reading tour. See the events page on Anna's website for dates & times. Vancouverites: 29 Oct, 6:30, Iron Dog Books
annaswanson.ca
I’m scheduled for knee-replacement surgery no. 2 on Oct 15 so I’ll only be making rare appearances here for a while. The procedure last Nov was surprisingly disruptive (although the outcome was excellent). Hoping for less of that & a return to better writing productivity. See you on the other side!
October 10, 2025 at 12:26 AM
I’m scheduled for knee-replacement surgery no. 2 on Oct 15 so I’ll only be making rare appearances here for a while. The procedure last Nov was surprisingly disruptive (although the outcome was excellent). Hoping for less of that & a return to better writing productivity. See you on the other side!
"...Sleep softly spirit of earth
as the days and nights join hands
when everything becomes one thing..."
-- Al Purdy, "The Dead Poet"
Made a pilgrimage yesterday to the Al Purdy sculpture in Toronto's Queen's Park--truly one of CanLit's secular stations of the cross. RIP AWP
as the days and nights join hands
when everything becomes one thing..."
-- Al Purdy, "The Dead Poet"
Made a pilgrimage yesterday to the Al Purdy sculpture in Toronto's Queen's Park--truly one of CanLit's secular stations of the cross. RIP AWP
October 2, 2025 at 1:18 PM
"...Sleep softly spirit of earth
as the days and nights join hands
when everything becomes one thing..."
-- Al Purdy, "The Dead Poet"
Made a pilgrimage yesterday to the Al Purdy sculpture in Toronto's Queen's Park--truly one of CanLit's secular stations of the cross. RIP AWP
as the days and nights join hands
when everything becomes one thing..."
-- Al Purdy, "The Dead Poet"
Made a pilgrimage yesterday to the Al Purdy sculpture in Toronto's Queen's Park--truly one of CanLit's secular stations of the cross. RIP AWP
"...'you're not in Ireland now.'"
Such deep feeling in Martina Evans' reading of Eavan Boland's poignant childhood memoir, beautifully framed and filmed, as always, by @brinkerhoffpoetry.bsky.social.
brinkerhoffpoetry.org/poems/an-iri...
Such deep feeling in Martina Evans' reading of Eavan Boland's poignant childhood memoir, beautifully framed and filmed, as always, by @brinkerhoffpoetry.bsky.social.
brinkerhoffpoetry.org/poems/an-iri...
October 1, 2025 at 2:33 PM
"...'you're not in Ireland now.'"
Such deep feeling in Martina Evans' reading of Eavan Boland's poignant childhood memoir, beautifully framed and filmed, as always, by @brinkerhoffpoetry.bsky.social.
brinkerhoffpoetry.org/poems/an-iri...
Such deep feeling in Martina Evans' reading of Eavan Boland's poignant childhood memoir, beautifully framed and filmed, as always, by @brinkerhoffpoetry.bsky.social.
brinkerhoffpoetry.org/poems/an-iri...
Lovely, Phillip.
From our meanderings yesterday, taken during a short visit to Toronto.
From our meanderings yesterday, taken during a short visit to Toronto.
September 30, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Lovely, Phillip.
From our meanderings yesterday, taken during a short visit to Toronto.
From our meanderings yesterday, taken during a short visit to Toronto.
A year ago, Ars Notoria published my story, "The Assignment." It concerns capital punishment. The barbaric #deathpenalty persists in some jurisdictions because their citizens can look away. There's nowhere to hide here.
Meet Jesse Nazaire & his executioner, Mr Bell.
arsnotoria.com/2024/09/23/t...
Meet Jesse Nazaire & his executioner, Mr Bell.
arsnotoria.com/2024/09/23/t...
September 30, 2025 at 2:32 PM
A year ago, Ars Notoria published my story, "The Assignment." It concerns capital punishment. The barbaric #deathpenalty persists in some jurisdictions because their citizens can look away. There's nowhere to hide here.
Meet Jesse Nazaire & his executioner, Mr Bell.
arsnotoria.com/2024/09/23/t...
Meet Jesse Nazaire & his executioner, Mr Bell.
arsnotoria.com/2024/09/23/t...
21st anniv. dinner with my beloved Lydia at L'Express--our fav. Montréal restaurant. The most authentic Parisian bistro outside Paris did not disappoint. We're off to Toronto on Sunday to prowl bookstores & see friends. This is the last hurrah before knee-replacement surgery no. 2, sched for 15 Oct.
September 26, 2025 at 4:57 PM
21st anniv. dinner with my beloved Lydia at L'Express--our fav. Montréal restaurant. The most authentic Parisian bistro outside Paris did not disappoint. We're off to Toronto on Sunday to prowl bookstores & see friends. This is the last hurrah before knee-replacement surgery no. 2, sched for 15 Oct.
Every one Paula Meehan plants flowers just this way. Little wonder then that this poem was chosen to meander all over London in subterranean tunnels, illuminating & brightening as it went, "../bless[ing] the power of sun / its conspiracy with the [U]nderground...".
June 21, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Every one Paula Meehan plants flowers just this way. Little wonder then that this poem was chosen to meander all over London in subterranean tunnels, illuminating & brightening as it went, "../bless[ing] the power of sun / its conspiracy with the [U]nderground...".
Beautiful.
Most of us who are parents have told some of those, I fear.
Most of us who are parents have told some of those, I fear.
June 12, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Beautiful.
Most of us who are parents have told some of those, I fear.
Most of us who are parents have told some of those, I fear.
I've entered the confessional.
The cover of Anne Giardini's first novel, "The Sad Truth About Happiness," displays an enigmatic Gerhard Richter painting. The cover perfectly engages with the novel's brilliant content.
Might this example of Richter's work redeem him for you?
For your penance...
The cover of Anne Giardini's first novel, "The Sad Truth About Happiness," displays an enigmatic Gerhard Richter painting. The cover perfectly engages with the novel's brilliant content.
Might this example of Richter's work redeem him for you?
For your penance...
June 5, 2025 at 4:32 PM
I've entered the confessional.
The cover of Anne Giardini's first novel, "The Sad Truth About Happiness," displays an enigmatic Gerhard Richter painting. The cover perfectly engages with the novel's brilliant content.
Might this example of Richter's work redeem him for you?
For your penance...
The cover of Anne Giardini's first novel, "The Sad Truth About Happiness," displays an enigmatic Gerhard Richter painting. The cover perfectly engages with the novel's brilliant content.
Might this example of Richter's work redeem him for you?
For your penance...
This poem. Wow, Phillip. Just wow.
I thought I recalled something about Miles Davis having been beaten by police outside a NY jazz club--as O'Hara mentions in the poem--and, indeed, it happened on 25 August 1959. That was eight days after "Kind of Blue" was released
todayinclh.com?event=jazz-g...
I thought I recalled something about Miles Davis having been beaten by police outside a NY jazz club--as O'Hara mentions in the poem--and, indeed, it happened on 25 August 1959. That was eight days after "Kind of Blue" was released
todayinclh.com?event=jazz-g...
June 2, 2025 at 8:30 PM
This poem. Wow, Phillip. Just wow.
I thought I recalled something about Miles Davis having been beaten by police outside a NY jazz club--as O'Hara mentions in the poem--and, indeed, it happened on 25 August 1959. That was eight days after "Kind of Blue" was released
todayinclh.com?event=jazz-g...
I thought I recalled something about Miles Davis having been beaten by police outside a NY jazz club--as O'Hara mentions in the poem--and, indeed, it happened on 25 August 1959. That was eight days after "Kind of Blue" was released
todayinclh.com?event=jazz-g...
Our dear friend Dana Cromie (on Instagram,
@danacromie) has an art show with Ewan McNeil at the Pendulum Gallery in Vancouver. Its last day is 30 May. Called "Pattern Language," it features Dana's stunning, geometrically complex colour wizardry.
Don't miss it!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVVZ...
@danacromie) has an art show with Ewan McNeil at the Pendulum Gallery in Vancouver. Its last day is 30 May. Called "Pattern Language," it features Dana's stunning, geometrically complex colour wizardry.
Don't miss it!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVVZ...
May 29, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Our dear friend Dana Cromie (on Instagram,
@danacromie) has an art show with Ewan McNeil at the Pendulum Gallery in Vancouver. Its last day is 30 May. Called "Pattern Language," it features Dana's stunning, geometrically complex colour wizardry.
Don't miss it!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVVZ...
@danacromie) has an art show with Ewan McNeil at the Pendulum Gallery in Vancouver. Its last day is 30 May. Called "Pattern Language," it features Dana's stunning, geometrically complex colour wizardry.
Don't miss it!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVVZ...
2 of 2/
So happy to find this gratifying review of my 2nd & 3rd collections of fiction & poetry in the May issue of The Advocate, a journal that serves all lawyers in British Columbia. Thank you, reviewer Leslie Palleson, for your clear & insightful analysis of my non-legal, non-academic writing.
So happy to find this gratifying review of my 2nd & 3rd collections of fiction & poetry in the May issue of The Advocate, a journal that serves all lawyers in British Columbia. Thank you, reviewer Leslie Palleson, for your clear & insightful analysis of my non-legal, non-academic writing.
May 27, 2025 at 2:30 AM
2 of 2/
So happy to find this gratifying review of my 2nd & 3rd collections of fiction & poetry in the May issue of The Advocate, a journal that serves all lawyers in British Columbia. Thank you, reviewer Leslie Palleson, for your clear & insightful analysis of my non-legal, non-academic writing.
So happy to find this gratifying review of my 2nd & 3rd collections of fiction & poetry in the May issue of The Advocate, a journal that serves all lawyers in British Columbia. Thank you, reviewer Leslie Palleson, for your clear & insightful analysis of my non-legal, non-academic writing.
"... so the sun
hangs down its veils, so the old verbs
change their invocation and their mood..."
-- Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin, "The Litany" from The Sun-Fish (Oldcastle: Gallery, 2009)
hangs down its veils, so the old verbs
change their invocation and their mood..."
-- Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin, "The Litany" from The Sun-Fish (Oldcastle: Gallery, 2009)
May 13, 2025 at 8:59 PM
"... so the sun
hangs down its veils, so the old verbs
change their invocation and their mood..."
-- Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin, "The Litany" from The Sun-Fish (Oldcastle: Gallery, 2009)
hangs down its veils, so the old verbs
change their invocation and their mood..."
-- Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin, "The Litany" from The Sun-Fish (Oldcastle: Gallery, 2009)
Finding a treasure tucked inside a book can provide one of life's most joyful moments. Inside a copy of Vita Sackville-West's biography of Aphra Benn that I purchased on ebay a few years ago, I found a presentation letter on Long Barn letterhead from VS-W to Edmund Gosse (of "Father and Son" fame).
May 12, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Finding a treasure tucked inside a book can provide one of life's most joyful moments. Inside a copy of Vita Sackville-West's biography of Aphra Benn that I purchased on ebay a few years ago, I found a presentation letter on Long Barn letterhead from VS-W to Edmund Gosse (of "Father and Son" fame).
I wrote There Was Fire in Magherafelt in response to Sinéad Morrissey's poem, There Was Fire in Vancouver (which gave its title to her 1st collection--Carcanet, 1996). My poem appears in my 1st collection, "A Lamb" (Ekstasis Editions, 2018), & is a tribute to both Sinéad Morrissey & Seamus Heaney.
April 8, 2025 at 10:05 PM
I wrote There Was Fire in Magherafelt in response to Sinéad Morrissey's poem, There Was Fire in Vancouver (which gave its title to her 1st collection--Carcanet, 1996). My poem appears in my 1st collection, "A Lamb" (Ekstasis Editions, 2018), & is a tribute to both Sinéad Morrissey & Seamus Heaney.
Apostastrophe Sightings: An Irregular Series
Most apostastrophes involve the reflexive insertion of apostrophes before the letter "s". (Think cat's and dog's.) A new variant spotted recently involves the use of an opening (left side) single quotation mark where an apostrophe belongs. Twice. Ugh.
Most apostastrophes involve the reflexive insertion of apostrophes before the letter "s". (Think cat's and dog's.) A new variant spotted recently involves the use of an opening (left side) single quotation mark where an apostrophe belongs. Twice. Ugh.
April 7, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Apostastrophe Sightings: An Irregular Series
Most apostastrophes involve the reflexive insertion of apostrophes before the letter "s". (Think cat's and dog's.) A new variant spotted recently involves the use of an opening (left side) single quotation mark where an apostrophe belongs. Twice. Ugh.
Most apostastrophes involve the reflexive insertion of apostrophes before the letter "s". (Think cat's and dog's.) A new variant spotted recently involves the use of an opening (left side) single quotation mark where an apostrophe belongs. Twice. Ugh.
This decision marks an important turning point. Here is the actual language of the court's declaratory order. The actual decision has not yet been posted, but a detailed summary is now up on the Judiciary NI website.
www.judiciaryni.uk/files/judici...
www.judiciaryni.uk/files/judici...
April 3, 2025 at 5:55 PM
This decision marks an important turning point. Here is the actual language of the court's declaratory order. The actual decision has not yet been posted, but a detailed summary is now up on the Judiciary NI website.
www.judiciaryni.uk/files/judici...
www.judiciaryni.uk/files/judici...
CORRECTION! "The Trial of D'Arcy McGee" will be staged in OTTAWA (not Toronto) and Montréal by The Newpoint Players from Newry. But Toronto friends should partake too! Train fare from TO to Canada's capital and back is reasonable and the service and scenery are lovely.
March 30, 2025 at 7:54 PM
CORRECTION! "The Trial of D'Arcy McGee" will be staged in OTTAWA (not Toronto) and Montréal by The Newpoint Players from Newry. But Toronto friends should partake too! Train fare from TO to Canada's capital and back is reasonable and the service and scenery are lovely.
PK Page (d. 2010) was one of Canada's most loved poets. In her book Hologram (1994), she reintroduced the world to the Spanish poetic form, the glosa. It has since seen an rich revival.
"Stefan" is one of my favourite PK poems. It records a Blakean "aha" moment about childhood wisdom & language.
"Stefan" is one of my favourite PK poems. It records a Blakean "aha" moment about childhood wisdom & language.
March 30, 2025 at 7:34 PM
PK Page (d. 2010) was one of Canada's most loved poets. In her book Hologram (1994), she reintroduced the world to the Spanish poetic form, the glosa. It has since seen an rich revival.
"Stefan" is one of my favourite PK poems. It records a Blakean "aha" moment about childhood wisdom & language.
"Stefan" is one of my favourite PK poems. It records a Blakean "aha" moment about childhood wisdom & language.
Bertrand Russell believed that language is an essential prerequisite to thought. Eminent scientists, like Evelina Fedorenko, beg to differ.
Canadian P.K. Page--a poet & not a scientist--saw the folly of Russell's belief upon hearing wise words from an 11-year old.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Canadian P.K. Page--a poet & not a scientist--saw the folly of Russell's belief upon hearing wise words from an 11-year old.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
March 26, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Bertrand Russell believed that language is an essential prerequisite to thought. Eminent scientists, like Evelina Fedorenko, beg to differ.
Canadian P.K. Page--a poet & not a scientist--saw the folly of Russell's belief upon hearing wise words from an 11-year old.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Canadian P.K. Page--a poet & not a scientist--saw the folly of Russell's belief upon hearing wise words from an 11-year old.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...