The path of love
Feb. 14th, 2006 08:02 pmThe Bruce Trail in Hockley Valley, October 2004
How it aches to be human, bridled with reason! Every choice must be weighed, knowledge against the drives of animal emotions. Intelligence is our greatest gift, and yet in doubting instinct altogether we become lost, incapable of action.
Along the pilgrimage we encounter many junctions. Every path, whether rough or easy, beautiful or terrifying, is a journey, a great and continual lesson.
In selecting poems for An Elegant Path, I went far back as possible. The oldest, "I swim beneath stars", was written during the bleak summer of 1995, before my marriage came apart. I peered into the distance, trying to hold onto her who was slipping away. The rest were written after the plunge: acceptance of my true sexuality. "Joining", "Pumpkin me", "Dreamer" and "Bear serenade" represent coming out, and a period of exploration from 1996 to 2000.
Since meeting Danny in 2003 I have been happier than ever. Poems for him are scattered throughout the chapbook. Several new ones were written for it. "Departing the trail" celebrates my current sense of wonder and tenderness.
Now I consider what it means for me to be polyamorous. "The gathering" looks forward to what will become, and what will be written.
And now...
An Elegant Path

A selection of 18 poems written between 1995 and 2006. Desktop published in booklet form, staple bound, covered in lightly textured "Birch" paper with a colour photo. This is a limited edition printing, each copy individually numbered and signed by the author.
Available for a suggested donation of $9.99 plus postage, total $10.50 to Canadian customers or $9.44 USD to the US. Other destinations can be accommodated. Payment via PayPal recommended. You can pay from your PayPal account or any chequing account. Credit card payment not available. Cheques by mail are okay. Will arrange personal delivery for cash in Guelph or the GTA.
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Update: I've been receiving requests to pay by credit card through PayPal. This will require me to upgrade to a premium account, but it looks like the best way to save a lot of hassle. It means an additional handling charge of $0.85 on all PayPal orders. This will not apply to orders that have already been processed.
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Date: 2006-02-15 01:30 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-02-15 03:07 am (UTC)I love that photo. I want to be there.
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Date: 2006-02-15 03:24 am (UTC)If you ever come up this way we'll have to hike that part of the Bruce Trail.
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Date: 2006-02-15 04:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-02-15 05:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-02-15 05:24 am (UTC)Hi Van, can you handle a check drawn on an American bank? Let me know here or at my email, which you have. Congratulations, it's very exciting, isn't it!?
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Date: 2006-02-15 10:07 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-02-15 06:43 am (UTC)I'll be sending you an e-mail in the next couple days...
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Date: 2006-02-15 10:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-02-15 03:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-02-15 10:09 pm (UTC)Congratulations Van!
Date: 2006-02-15 06:32 pm (UTC)PS. Thank you for reading a couple of them to me last weekend. You make me a mushy cub!
Re: Congratulations Van!
Date: 2006-02-15 10:10 pm (UTC)