Tim Lilburn Libri

Written over a nine-year span, Living In The World As If It Were Home is a careful, exquisite look at the human desire to share a home with long grass, rivers, and stones, by poet Tim Lilburn. Lilburn's collection of essays plots the work required to roughly re-establish the conditions of Paradise; it explores the world of prairies rivers, aspen-covered sandhills, deer country, big lakes taking on their first ice in late October, the moon rising over chokecherry thickets, and asks: How to be here? There's nothing glib about the answer Lilburn offers as he says in one of his poems: The way back will be hard, ghost road through the rooms of sorrow/moon of contemplation on our backs. Though hard, however, the way is readily available: plain delight, he believes, knows the way. But the project to live in the world as though it were home requires the recovery of the full resources of human desire. The muscle of eros needs to be made strong.

Set against the backdrop of Saskatchewan's arid landscapes, the collection captures the essence of retreat and introspection. Through vivid imagery, the poet shares experiences of cultivating gardens, digging root cellars, and sleeping under the stars, emphasizing a deep connection to nature and the spirit of the land. The poems reflect on the beauty of simple moments and the presence of wildlife, offering a meditative exploration akin to sacred texts. This work stands as a testament to the profound insights of one of Canada's esteemed poets.

Set against the backdrop of the South Saskatchewan River, this collection of poems explores the intricate relationship between landscape and emotion. The vivid imagery of familiar yet strange elements—like willows, geese, and coyote—invites readers into a contemplative journey. The poems reflect a deep yearning for connection and understanding, blending spiritual and sensual themes. With a focus on both aesthetic beauty and the elusive nature of language, the work serves as a tribute to the earth and an intimate exploration of the poet's inner life.

This collection showcases the work of a celebrated poet recognized with the Governor General's Award for Poetry. It features a range of themes and emotions, reflecting the poet's unique voice and mastery of language. The poems explore personal and universal experiences, inviting readers to engage deeply with the intricate layers of meaning and emotion woven throughout the verses.

The collection explores themes of philosophical loss and political disaffection through two distinct parts. The first part delves into the historical suppression of Plato's Academy and its relocation to Persia, while the second part situates itself in contemporary Canada, featuring figures like Augustine and Kepler. Despite their differences, both sections grapple with the pervasive sense of beauty amidst chaos and the urgent call to embrace love over hatred. This darkly visionary work reflects on the collapse of sustaining paradigms in a troubled world.

Exploring the intersection of spirituality and environmentalism, Tim Lilburn delves into the contemplative traditions of the West while addressing the emotional toll of the climate crisis. He incorporates insights from historical and contemporary thinkers, emphasizing practices such as listening and imagination to foster deeper connections with the land and Indigenous communities. This work is aimed at scholars and readers engaged in poetry, environmental philosophy, and the potential for a reflective approach to politics.

From Governor General's Award-winning poet Tim Lilburn comes a new collection of poetry of great scope and ambition. The Names is personal and familial archaeology, an extemporal dig giving spectres back to their bodies. With its lines sped up and dazzlingly associative, Tim Lilburn’s cocktail of obsessions – confession, ontology, mystical theology, humour and extreme, fleet, apt weirdness – marches through on full display. He pulls in an even broader cast of characters than his previous collections managed: John Ruusbroec and Marguerite Porete brush past aunts, uncles, and unusual creatures steering the boats of language past fog-draped trees. In Lilburn’s latest collection, we are immersed in a realism of remarkable proportions, as though incandescent memory comprised both texture and text, and combined formed the elemental fibres of a perilous present.