Bright Pathway

Selected Poems of Kathleen Moore

Archive for the ‘Poems’ Category

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

February 18th, 2015 | Author: Kathleen Moore

Kathleen Moore is a Montreal poet whose poems reflect the Canadian Modernist and Imagist traditions. She is also a translator and hobbyist photographer turned activist, with a special interest in Canadian Constitutional law: she is the author of HABEAS CORPUS CANADA, the Official Legal Challenge to North American Union, long in preparation.

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF
MS. MOORE

» Poetry Anthology Appearances

Celebrating Canadian Women: Prose and Poetry by and about Canadian Women. (Editor: Greta Hofmann Nemiroff, Publisher: Toronto, Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 1989. 406 pages.)

Here Is A Poem. An Anthology of Canadian Poetry. (Editor: Florence McNeil, Publisher: The League of Canadian Poets, 1984)

» Poetry Magazine Appearances

From An Island, (Creative Writing Department of the University of Victoria, 1979-1981)

The Raddle Moon, (Department of Creative Writing, University of Victoria, 1983)

Waves, (Creative Writing Department of the University of Victoria, 1981)

» Poetry Awards

Concordia University Undergraduate Award for Poetry on 18 March 1980, from a panel headed by the late F. R. Scott:

The Jury for the Undergraduate Award in Poetry has the pleasure of informing you that you are our unanimous choice for the award.

We have cited your “maturity of perception and conception as well as maturity of craft. There is a wide range of complexly treated poetic experience, developed with considerable energy of invention, particularly of metaphor, and a careful sense of the sound, feel, and texture of words.”

We certainly hope that you continue to write and that you have good success finding publishers of your work.

» Poetry Chap-Books

Nova : 9 poems, a souvenir booklet for the children in Ms. Moore’s gifted kids’ poetry workshop (Athanor Press, 1983) 10 pages

» Poetry Editing & Publishing

ATHANOR, Canadian Poetry and Interviews, (Athanor Press, 1979-1981)

FRAME OF DARKNESS, Poems of Russell Thornton, 1981.

» Non-Fiction

The Great Year in Myth and Religion, West and East : Explored through the Revelation of John the Divine, (Athanor Press, 1984)

The Vernal Equinox: A Common Tradition in Western Myth & Mysticism. Preliminary draft. (Athanor Press, 1983)

Kings and Paradigms: Space and Time in Revelation, by Kathleen (Moore) Pageot, (Athanor Press, 1983)

666 : The Human Number, (Athanor Press, 1982)

Pocket Resume Guide and Expert Resumé Writing Kit, under the pseudonym Blair Gordon in 1986, 1992, 1993.

» Poetry Readings

Ms. Moore read from her work at the Blue Mountain Poetry Festival in Collingwood, Ontario (1981), the Westmount Arts Festival (1985), and the N.D.G. Book Store (1987). A photocopied short collection of poems was handed out at the N.D.G. Book Store reading, and copies were subsequently sold by the store (title unknown). The reading was audio-taped by someone anonymous.

» Poetry Teaching

In 1983, Ms. Moore created, designed, wrote and taught a 3-month workshop entitled “Poetry: Reading, Writing & Publishing,” for a circle of gifted kids in the Protestant School Board. Facilities were provided by The Protestant School Board of Greater Montreal. Special facilities were provided by The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts in their Ancient World Collection for “The Origins of Poetry in the Prayer and Creation Myths of the Ancient World” field trip, for which Ms. Moore dressed as the goddess Isis and led a spontaneous children’s choir in funeral rights for the Pharaoh. Ms. Moore’s class was observed by members of the Alberta Department of Education. The Word Bookstore on Milton Street very memorably hosted the launch of the class poetry collection, inevitably entitled “Spectrum,” by the kids, who were 9 and 10 years old at the time they edited & published it themselves. Joanna Radbord and Carla Wainright were the Editors. The book launch and reading were covered by CBC Radio and the Montreal press, thanks to terrific hosting and preparation by The Word Bookstore.

» A Literary Archive

Ms. Moore has a tiny little archive under the heading of “Other important archival fonds” in Special Collections at the University of Ottawa, the Kathleen Moore-Pageot fonds (30-007). The Collection describes her as “a Montreal poet and editor of the Athanor magazine from 1979 to 1982”.

Her correspondence can be found in the personal papers of Robert Graves. RG/J/MooreK at page 27 of 44 of the Summary Index of the Personal Papers of Robert Graves. St John’s College, Oxford.

» Career Highlights

Freelance writer, translator and editor in marketing and advertising.

Senior English Copywriter and Translator with the former Jay Norris Canada (now “Best Buy”), supervising the English writing team.

Senior English Copywriter and Translator with the former Revista Group, an ad-house specialized in recruitment and career postings for the local and national daily papers. Clients included Massey Ferguson, Pascal Design Centers, Oerlikon Aerospace, Bell Helicopter, Royal Trust, Les Affaires, Domtar, and many others.

» This Web Site

The WordPress theme for this web site was designed by Ms. Moore, using a Rose found online. The code is generated in Artisteer.

The download tab for “This Poem Free (PDF)” is done with the Easy Media Download plugin by Noor’s Plugin for WordPress. How amazing that this download tab perfectly converts to HTML and remains functional! Vertical Custom Share Buttons with Floating Sidebar for the WordPress version of this web site are by Raghunath Gurjar for Mr. WebSolution.

» WAYBACK CAPTURES

Ritual

February 18th, 2015 | Author: Kathleen Moore

Our bodies impress the static sand
with grace, and dance
among the swordblade reeds
that sunward thrust
salute

until we lie suspended
windless as the dunes

under the swordpoint
stars

This Poem Free (PDF)

Posted in Poems | Tags: Canada, imagist, Kathleen Moore, modernist, poem, Ritual | Comments Closed

Chameleon

February 18th, 2015 | Author: Kathleen Moore

We stand at morning’s window,
Praise the golden needles in our eyes
Embroidering the sun
Like an Imperial Dragon
On our silken lids.

Turned from the wooden frame
We admire our tapestry.
I pull a stray thread
from your forehead—

—you unravel.

The dragon’s tail falls cold
on the stone window-ledge.

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Posted in Poems | Tags: Canada, Chameleon, imagist, Kathleen Moore, modernist, poem | Comments Closed

Firefly

February 18th, 2015 | Author: Kathleen Moore

In the darkness
the cyclopean red glow
of your cigarette
is your real third eye.

You smoke
only to catch my hidden face
in the sudden matchflame.

Laughing,
you show me
the blue genitals
of the fire
pulsing
on the golden stick.

When you walk away
from me,
the light weaves you
a flaming sweater;
and sleeves, bluer
than shadows
spin from my emptying eyes.

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Posted in Poems | Tags: Canada, Firefly, imagist, Kathleen Moore, modernist, poem | Comments Closed

Sudden Rainstorm

February 18th, 2015 | Author: Kathleen Moore

While we lie still
in the emptying bowl of light,
our bodies lengthwise to the poles
(like glimmering spoons)

Kite-winged the gull
rides wind
smudged black
as her own wing-tips,
the burnt sky spreading west and east
from her darkness-whitened breast—

—Cloud surfaces shift
unearthing footprints of wind
in the treadmill of ash-colored cotton
unbolting overhead.
When those
first kernels of cold ignite
our sunbruised skin
you kneel to gather
up oil, watch, keys
into your green plastic beachbag, roll
your greenedged mat, then ride
your heels
(like the white
gull hanging still
over the mountain as the sky expands).

Then the blackening sky
lifts and breaks northwest
letting down cold grey cones of rain
like pale rays of light into the ozone air,
and I strip from the line
our sheets
that all morning filled and filled,
shaping this coming storm

then await, like you, the now
doubly desired downpour
(the fluttering streaming of the white gull’s wings).

This Poem Free (PDF)

Posted in Poems | Tags: Canada, imagist, Kathleen Moore, poem, Sudden Rainstorm | Comments Closed

Reply to Rilke’s “Autumn Day”

February 18th, 2015 | Author: Kathleen Moore

(Previously unpublished)

For Steve and Mona Alapi

Love, it is time. Come, lie upon me
like the shadow on the sundial
and over my mouth let your strong mouth
measure the falling minutes. Let us rinse

our mouths with wine of kisses
forced to perfection not by the sun
but by the first frost of autumn.

Then let us sleep and awaken
and write and read in one another’s bodies
long love letters in the script of touch,
and build us a house of love

and together hew a bright pathway to and from
that either may take when after the other goes,
we must walk alone where the last wind blows
shadowless under the equinox.

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Posted in Poems | Tags: Canada, imagist, Kathleen Moore, modernist, poem, Reply to Rilke's "Autumn Day", Rilke | Comments Closed

Why I Woke You

February 18th, 2015 | Author: Kathleen Moore

Parody on an Irving Layton poem
of the same title, while enrolled
in his class at University

I heard our two watches talking.
They talked a long time.
They talked in circles
All night to decide
Which was best at hours, yours or mine.

Yours was very proud, being new
And meanly mocked mine
For falling behind:
—No fault of its own,
Because I bought it second-hand.

My watch called your watch a bad name,
Your watch did the same.
“Now, wait a minute—”
Said mine, losing face,
“Darn digital, your number’s up!”

My watch hit your watch a backhand.
Yours gave mine the works.
Really boxed its gears.
That’s why I woke you,
To ask you what time it is, dear.

This Poem Free (PDF)

Posted in Poems | Tags: Canada, clock metaphor, imagist, Irving Layton, Kathleen Moore, modernist, parody, poem, timepiece metaphor, Why I Woke You | Comments Closed

Portrait of a Fast Cat

February 18th, 2015 | Author: Kathleen Moore

Grandma on the back verandah,
the Final Edition in her lap
throws her tea to hit
the neighbours’ cat in our flowers.

Pragmatic, the pussy watches
the arcing body of hot water
somersault through air off-target—

The first drops rattle claws
on the rock ledge
as the missed cat scrams

And a backwind catches the brown tail
of liquid still descending
into the gold chrysanthemums
and splashes it in petals all over
the red verandah gate.

Irate, grandma enters the kitchen
for another cup
then settles in the lawnchair by the steps

watchfully,
the news rolled up like a cannon.

Between slats of the high, weathered picket,
eartufts twitch in the sun.

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Posted in Poems | Tags: Canada, imagist, Kathleen Moore, modernist, poem, poetry, Portrait of a Fast Cat | Comments Closed

Boiling Eggs in a White-flecked Black Pot

February 18th, 2015 | Author: Kathleen Moore

For Angela Beyde when she was little

Bald women are snorkelling
in the north sea
where an ice-floe breaking
up awakens
white blind fishes in a sub-
terranean river
on a strange world
where three slim crescents
of moonlight float
among the flecked enamel
stars.

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Posted in Poems | Tags: Boiling Eggs in a White-flecked Black Pot, Canada, imagist, Kathleen Moore, modernist, poem | Comments Closed

Window Shopping

February 18th, 2015 | Author: Kathleen Moore

Yesterday, a fall sale of birds
flew south
over the checkout counter,
their cries ringing
the sun’s cold zero.

This morning the aisles are emptied
and one red sweater
swings
high on a branch
while invisible workers
whitewash old walls.

This Poem Free (PDF)

Posted in Poems | Tags: birds migrating south, Canada, imagist, Kathleen Moore, modernist, poem, Window Shopping | Comments Closed

Archive for the ‘Poems’ Category

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF MS. MOORE

» Poetry Anthology Appearances

» Poetry Magazine Appearances

» Poetry Awards

» Poetry Chap-Books

» Poetry Editing & Publishing

» Non-Fiction

» Poetry Readings

» Poetry Teaching

» A Literary Archive

» Career Highlights

» This Web Site

» WAYBACK CAPTURES

Bright Pathway

Eve’s Diary

The Sun Is The Key

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF
MS. MOORE