If We Could See by Steve Fergusson
If We Could See If we could see from sea to sea to sea, Oh, how wonderful it would be… From snow-capped mountains in the […]
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Eh? to Zed. by Brendan Morphet
What It Means to be Canadian Poem Contest Eh? to Zed. by Brendan Morphet: Tims in hand, cross country drive has begun.
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WHAT BEING CANADIAN MEANS TO ME by Nadine Peters
WHAT BEING CANADIAN MEANS TO ME Nadine Peters Teslin,YT It’s Northern lights with emerald shine Upon a breaking dawn It’s long, cold nights that chill
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What it means to be Canadian – by Pam van Kampen
Following is a Lyric, Free Verse, Poem: The Canada man sat opposite me I, all nervous and prepared And when his judgment came to be
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Diverse Foliage by Jose Gonzalo
A poem from a reader. A leaf releases off its parent tree. The breeze carries me far away from home. I gently descend…
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Soaring by Mary Ellen O’Brien
Soaring A red and white kite Soars in the sky, red maple leaf Dazzling in the sun It begins its journey in the east Threading
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DIDEE & DIDOO: Avoid Problems
DON’T DRINK. DON’T DO DRUGS. DON’T SMOKE. DON’T CHEW SNUFF. DON’T EAT JUNK FOOD. DON’T GAMBLE. EXERCISE. WORK. DON’T BORROW. DON’T LEND. DON’T BRAG. DON’T
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DIDEE & DIDOO: THEY’RE HIGHLY COMPETITIVE
I HAVE TO HAVE THE BEST ORGANIC DIET. I HAVE TO HAVE THE BEST AND LIGHTEST EQUIPMENT. I HAVE TO BE KNOWLEDGEABLE ON TRAINING METHODS.
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Poetry for Change
Sheri-D Wilson, who calls herself The Mama of Dada, is an award-winning spoken word poet, educator, speaker and activist, who has performed in literary, film
All Her Roads Lead to Poetry
Yukon based writer Joanna Lilley has just published her second collection of poetry If there Were Roads by Turnstone Press; she says that there are
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What it means to be Canadian – by Victoria Peters
Here is Victoria’s entry for this contest – She also took the two photos (Chloe and the Canadian flag). Fall comes and leaves start to fall.
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Ode to Mosquitos
I love blood-sucking mosquitos In my eyes, ears and nose; On my chips, nachos and tacos, In my hair and between my toes.
DIDEE & DIDOO: ALLAN BENJAMIN
HE WAKES UP AT FOUR AND HE’S OUT THE DOOR. HE’S UP BEFORE THE SUN AN’ HE GOES FOR A RUN. ALLAN DOESN’T LIKE TO
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DIDEE & DIDOO: BABY BOOMERS
WE ALL REMEMBERED BLOOMERS NOW THEY CALL US BABY BOOMERS. WE ALL USED TO BE NEW NOW WE’RE LIKE AN OLD SHOE. WE USED TO
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DIDEE & DIDOO: WIVES USED THEIR HUSBAND’S FIRST NAMES
MARTHA MOSES WAS MARRIED TO MOSES TIZYA. MARY RUFUS WAS MARRIED TO RUFUS NETRO. MARY PAUL WAS MARRIED TO PAUL BEN KASSI. MARY LAZARUS WAS
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DIDEE & DIDOO: THOU SHALT NOT SWEAR
*EAT THIS RICE ALL MUDDY. WHY DON’T YOU THUCK OFF. THUCK YOU. DON’T THUCK AROUND. THUCKER. *FUTHER MUCKER. WELL I’LL BE THUCK ME. YOU THUCKIN
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DIDEE & DIDOO: Embrace Winter
You can go dog mushing. You can go snow shoeing. You can go skiing. You can go skating. You can make a snowman. You can
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Yukon / Utopia
In “Spell of the Yukon,” Bobby Service suggests, The realm’s Utopia—snock snarls of forests; Avalanches that out-grumble politicos; Gold that outweighs paper dollars backed by
DIDEE & DIDOO: I’VE NEVER BEEN EVERYWHERE
I HAVE NEVER BEEN TO ENGLAND BUT I’VE BEEN TO CARIBOU LOOKOUT. IHAVE NEVER BEEN TO FRANCE BUT I’VE BEEN TO RAMPART HOUSE. I HAVE
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DIDEE & DIDOO: I’M STILL INTACT
I STILL HAVE MY WINGS. I STILL HAVE MY TAIL. I STILL HAVE MY CLAWS. I STILL HAVE MY FINS. I STILL HAVE MY HORNS.
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Didee & Didoo: I’m Still Intact
I STILL HAVE MY WINGS. I STILL HAVE MY TAIL. I STILL HAVE MY CLAWS. I STILL HAVE MY FINS. I STILL HAVE MY HORNS.
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Like the Man Said, Those Precious Days are Dwindling Down
The great American lyricist Maxwell Anderson summed up the imperatives of this time of year better than anyone else: “Oh, it’s a long, long while
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Didee & Didoo: Name Your Baby
YOU CAN NAME HIM LAZARUS OR YOU CAN NAME HER SARAH. YOU CAN NAME HIM ABRAHAM OR YOU CAN NAME HER JEMIMA. YOU CAN NAME
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Didee & Didoo: First Time
FIRST TIME I HAD A COACH. FIRST TIME I RAN ON A TRACK. FIRST TIME I HAD A FIRST AID SATION. FIRST TIME I HAD
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Rooted in the Yukon
Toronto-based poet Claire Caldwell’s role as writer-in-residence at the Berton House in Dawson City ends this month. Caldwell is no stranger to the Yukon. She
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How Foster Care Shapes Lives
Amelia Merhar knows what it’s like to be a foster child, to go from home to home, and to be without a home at all.
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Didee & Didoo: OLD CROW ZOO
YOU’LL SEE LOTS OF CARIBOU. YOU’LL SEE LOTS OF MOOSE. YOU’LL SEE LOTS OF MARTEN. YOU’LL SEE LOTS OF SQUIRRELS. YOU’LL SEE LOTS OF WOLVES.
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Didee & Didoo: INDIAN TIME
WE DON’T KEEP TRACK OF TIME AN’ WE DON’T THINK IT’S A CRIME. OUR ALARM GOES ON AT EIGHT BUT WE LIKE TO BE LATE.
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Didee & Didoo: Dome Run
I’M OVER THE HILL TO RUN UP THE HILL. I NEVER RAN IT BEFORE BUT I KNOW IT’S SORT. I’LL GIVE IT A TRY BUT
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Didee & Didoo: I SNOWSHOED AT… I FIDDLED AT…
I Snowshoed at… ANCHORAGE – IDITASHOE FT YUKON – ICE KING CLASSIC DAWSON – AWG SNOWSHOE TRIALS OLD CROW – EASTER CARNIVAL FT MCPHERSON –
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Didee & Didoo: I SHOOK THEIR HANDS
REGGIE LEACH – NHL HOCKEY PLAYER. GEORGE CHUVALO – PROFESSIONAL BOXER. CHIEF PETER MOSES – BRITISH EMPIRE MEDAL. PIERRE TRUDEAU – PRIME MINISTER. GEORGE ATTLA
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Sharing Words
In 2015 Victoria-based poet Yvonne Blomer paid a visit to Whitehorse and did a reading of her poetry book, As If a Raven. In her
Didee & Didoo: AT OLD CROW
Didee & Didoo by Allen Benjamin: At Old Crow WE DON’T HAVE TRAFFIC LIGHTS. WE DON’T HAVE ELEVATORS. WE DON’T HAVE BRIDGES. WE DON’T HAVE
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Didee & Didoo: BEFORE A RACE
I CAN’T SLEEP. I SHAKE. I’M NERVOUS. I CAN’T BREATHE. I CAN’T TALK. I ALMOST CHOKE. MY HEART BEATS FAST. I GET STIFF. I CAN’T
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Fresh Words and Deep Roots
Writing poetry since she was a child, Nova Scotia based author Shauntay Grant says she has always loved creative writing. “The oldest poem I’ve kept
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Didee & Didoo: WHAT ANIMALS THINK OF US
THEY WALK ON TWO FEET. THEY DON’T HAVE TAILS. THEY DON’T BARK. THEY DON’T PANT. THEY DON’T HAVE FUR. THEY DON’T HAVE HORNS. THEY DON’T
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Didee & Didoo: NOT GUILTY
THEY WORK OVERTIME TO COMMIT CRIME. THEIR MANNERS THEY DON’T USE AN’ THEY LIKE TO ABUSE. THEY LIKE TO ROB AN’ THAT’S THEIR JOB. THEY
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The Other Side of a Light Story
A few weeks ago, in a light-hearted piece about bucket lists, I mentioned a trip to England with my father 20 years ago this month.
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The Joy of Haiku
On May 20 to 22 haiku lovers from across Canada will descend upon the Gold Rush Inn for three days of all-things haiku. The Haiku
Didee & Didoo: DIDOO NEVER HAD THESE THINGS
DIDOO COULDN’T WRITE OR READ SO THESE THINGS SHE DIDN’T NEED. DIDOO NEVER HAD A MEASURING CUP. DIDOO NEVER HAD MEASURING SPOONS. DIDOO NEVER HAD
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Didee & Didoo: RED LANTERN
YOUR TEAM IS NEVER IN THE LEAD ‘CAUSE THEY DON’T HAVE THE SPEED. THEY’RE ALWAYS LAST ‘CAUSE THEY’RE NOT FAST. YOU’RE THE LAST TO THE
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Didee & Didoo: STUFF YOU SHOULD KNOW
DON’T SHOOT CARIBOU AND MOOSE WHEN THEY’RE RUTTING. THREE RIFLE SHOTS MEANS “DISTRESS.” CHECK ICE THICKNESS BEFORE CROSSING. WEAR SUNGLASSES IN THE SPRING TIME. STAY
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Didee & Didoo: I MADE A FIDDLE
FIDDLES COST TOO MUCH THEY WOULDN’T LET ME TOUCH. SO WHEN I WAS LITTLE I MADE MY OWN FIDDLE. IT SOUNDED LIKE A LOON BUT
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Didee & Didoo: THERE’S ALL KINDS OF FORTS
THERE’S ALL KINDS OF FORTS. THERE’S FORT YUKON, ALASKA. THERE’S FORT MCPHERSON, NWT. THERE’S FORT SELKIRK, YUKON. THERE’S FORT GOOD HOPE, NWT. THERE’S FORT PROVIDENCE,
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‘Novelty is as Old as the Hills’
The film Les Enfants du Paradise (Marcel Carné, 1945) has been called the greatest film ever made since its release. The film’s resurrection of the
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Didee & Didoo: MOOSE AND RABBIT
THEY EAT WILLOW LEAVES IN THE AUTUMN AN’ ONLY RABBIT EATS AT THE BOTTOM. MOOSE AND RABBIT MADE A DEAL SO THAT THEY’LL BOTH HAVE
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Didee & Didoo: WHEN I GO HUNTING
I HAVE NEVER SEEN A HORSE. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A VULTURE. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A ZEBRA. I HAVE NEVER SEEN AN ELEPHANT. I
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Didee & Didoo: WILLOW MAN
WILLOW MAN IS HIS NAME AN’ HIS ARROW HE LIKES TO AIM. HE’S AS STRONG AS A BEAR AN’ HE HUNTS WITH A SPEAR. WILLOW
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Poetry in Action
Poetry, spoken, plays and short stories at Brave New Words. An evening of music poetry and cocktails. The brave can get up, it’s an open mic.
Didee & Didoo: THOSE MY AUNTIE
I CALL THOSE MY AUNTIE HE AN’ HE CALL THOSE UNCLE SHE. THOSE AUNTIE HE’S NOT THAT NEW AND SNUFF HE ALWAYS CHEW. I THINK
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Didee & Didoo: HELICOPTER CRASH
THEY WENT FOR A SHORT RIDE BUT LUCKILY NO ONE DIED. IN THE WATER THEY MADE A SPLASH WHEN THE HELICOPTER MADE A CRASH. THE
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Didee & Didoo: I CAN’T KEEP STILL
I CAN STILL SNOWSHOE. I CAN STILL RUN. I CAN STILL BIKE. I CAN STILL CANOE. I CAN STILL MUSH DOGS. I CAN STILL SKI.
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Didee & Didoo: DIDOO AN’ POOR DIDEE
THEIR BACKS ARE BENT AN’ THEY STAY IN A TENT. THEY DON’T READ OR WRITE AN’ THEY USE CANDLE AT NIGHT. DIDOO WEAR LONG SKIRT
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Didee & Didoo: I’M RUNNING FOR PRIME MINISTER
BECAUSE I KNOW HOW TO SNOWSHOE. BECAUSE I KNOW HOW TO CANOE. BECAUSE I KNOW HOW TO HUNT. BECAUSE I KNOW HOW TO FISH. BECAUSE
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Didee & Didoo: Strong Poem
THEY’RE HAVING A STRONG MEETING. LIBERAL IS STRONG GOVERNMENT. AMERICAN SIDE MAKE STRONG LAW. SANTA CLAUS GIVE ME STRONG PRESENT. OLD CHIEF GOT STRONG NAME.
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Didee & Didoo: I Wish I Had Wings
I don’t have paws. I don’t have a tail. I don’t have horns. I don’t have hoofs. I don’t have feathers. I don’t have fins.
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Didee & Didoo: POWER OUTAGE
YOU CAN STILL USE YOUR WHEELBARROW. YOU CAN STILL USE YOUR AXE. YOU CAN STILL USE YOUR HANDSAW. YOU CAN STILL SEE WITH YOUR CANDLE.
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Three Books for Adventurous Souls
It’s the fall season, which means two things: the slow-creep of cold weather and a near-existential dread of the aforementioned. It also means, for thousands
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Didee & Didoo: Good Samaritan
GOOD SAMARITANS ALWAYS CARE AND THEY ALWAYS LIKE TO SHARE. THEY WORK FOR GOD ABOVE GIVING IS HOW THEY SHOW THEIR LOVE. THEY’LL GIVE YOU
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Review Haiku
“We want to freshen up the image of the library … as the cool place that it is,” Sarah Gallagher tells me with a sideways
Didee & Didoo: Left-Handed
DO THEY HAVE LEFT-HANDED CUPS? DO THEY HAVE LEFT-HANDED HATS? DO THEY HAVE LEFT-HANDED PENCILS? DO THEY HAVE LEFT-HANDED PADDLES? DO THEY HAVE LEFT-HANDED AXES?
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Didee & Didoo: QUIET PEOPLE
SOME PEOPLE ARE QUIET AN’ THEY WON’T CAUSE A RIOT. THEY JUST LIKE TO BE ALONE AN’ THEY DON’T LIKE A PHONE. QUIET PEOPLE ARE
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Off to Skagway to Explore Language
By the time you read this I’ll be “Exploring the Frontiers of Language” in Skagway, attending this year’s edition of the North Words Writers Symposium.
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Grief Writing in Dawson
Jacob Scheier wrote his first collection of poems about the loss of his mother; he was 20. She had gotten sick when he was in
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The Adventures of Suburban Joe
It’s been ten years and three months since we moved to this street. The neighbors are friendly. It’s quiet and neat. The bus and the
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The Sound of Home
I dream of my hometown. Walking through these streets again, listening to music floating from open windows like light. Harmonica, accordion. Walking these streets where
Brave Old Words
Compared to what I did last time (playing my banjo and singing in front of a rowdy bar crowd) the prospect of reading poetry to
Ryan Dorward’s Tales of Absurdity
Beer hockey is not a sport for the faint of heart. Although it substitutes much of the grace, skill, and teamwork of our nation’s icy
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Intimidating but Great
“Writing poetry makes me happy,” Joanna Lilley says. “I am somewhere else when I write poetry. I am an intuitive writer.” The Whitehorse based poet
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Mind Stretching Poetry
What does knitting have in common with writing poetry? Both must be done carefully. One mistake can ruin the whole image. Jamie Sharpe knitted a
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A Poem a Day
If you peruse the 365 poems that make up the Tumblr feed from Lori Garrison’s latest poetry project, Today, In the News, you won’t find
One Person, Many Selves
In 2007, visual artist and poet Sonja Ahlers, experienced two major breakups, one with her boyfriend, and one with the city of Vancouver. She left
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Didee & Didoo: Poem “Improvise”
You are wise if you improvise. You have knowledge not learned in college. You make plans using your hands. You use tools not following rules.
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Didee & Didoo – Poem “Thin Ice”
Thin Ice When you are on thin ice you have to think twice. If you make one mistake you can fall in the lake. If
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Didee & Didoo – Poem “Depression”
Depression Hard times are coming an’ there will be bumming. Times will be tough an’ there won’t be enough. On the land we have to
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A week full of poetry
It was a rainy and windy afternoon in LePage Park on Friday, July 11, when author Jessica Simon started reading her poem, “A Spot to
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In Praise of 7th Avenue
In Praise of 7th Avenue It’s not on the way to anywhere. It’s a world removed from the fast food congestion of 2nd and the
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Life Lessons from a Phenomenal Woman
Dr. Maya Angelou lived her life like she wrote her poems: fearlessly, with inner grace and free spirit. When she died on May 28, at
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Didee & Didoo – Poem “Gerald”
His name is Gerald Nukon From Old Crow Yukon. He always says “Hi!” An’ he’s a pretty cool guy. Gerald is such a great lad
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Didee & Didoo – Poem “Hope”
HOPE Don’t ever say nope ‘cause there’s always hope. Even if you don’t have soap You’ll always have hope. If you don’t have bug dope
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Didee & Didoo – Poem “Autobiography”
AUTOBIOGRAPHY – A. BENJAMIN I DON’T LIKE TO WRITE ABOUT MYSELF ‘CAUSE SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE AN ELF. I WAS BORN UP IN OLD CROW
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Poems Like Flower Seeds
A good poem can be a flower seed planted in the mind of the reader. Everything is in the poem; it just needs fertile ground
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