Topical poems - smart, thoughtful, irreverent and funny.

John Allemang's "Poetic Justice" column in The Globe and Mail astonished the newspaper's readers when it was launched in 2002. Each week since then has brought a made-to-order poem about personalities in the news, written with a stylish flair and a well-versed cleverness that hardly seems possible with the immediacy of the potent subject matter.

Now Allemang has selected 75 of his most memorable poems that continue to charm, provoke and amuse his dedicated readership. Whether it's Conrad Black's costly approach to the joys of marriage or God's exasperated musings on the same-sex controversy, Allemang's conversational rhymes have created a following for topical verse that goes well beyond the usual poetry audience. Illustrations by The Globe and Mail's award-winning Brian Gable add a touch of visual wit to this collection of verses.

Poetic Justice is refreshingly simple and direct, accessible to anyone who longs for a smart, often funny and always engaging approach to the issues of the day.

John Allemang

John Allemang's profile page

These poems are a treasure trove / Of all our culture's worshipped shams / In tetrametrical iambs.... And criticism sounds much worse / when dished out in exquisite verse; / Though poetry may seem archaic, / Prose is sometimes too prosaic.

Univ of Toronto Bookstore Review

Like rock and roll, there are many different kinds of poetry in the world, and Allemang is whip smart, with allusions and interests sufficiently wide-ranging to keep his work sharp, incisive and sometimes very funny.

This Magazine

Poetic Justice is good news for [Allemang's] fans. ... Amusing, witty and sometimes very hard-hitting ... Whether pop icon, political figure, or fleetingly famous, no one is spared. This is definitely one of those books that those who like satire should add to their collection.

Lancette Journal of the Arts (lancetter.ca)

(starred review) Although Allemang's poetry is connected to the oft-transient headlines of the week, some of his poems, such as "Same-Sex: God Weighs In," "Here's Osama!,"..."Osama's Christmas Letters" and "Chewing the Fat," have legs as they deal with recurring issues in our world. The book's visual appearance is enhanced by a dozen drawings by Brian Gable, the editorial cartoonist for The Globe and Mail... Poetic Justice: Satirical Verse from The Globe and Mail would likely be housed in the adult section of a public library, but the book definitely would not be out of place in a high school library or classroom. English teachers could use it to show the relevance of the poetic form in today's world while the book's contents have numerous obvious tie-ins with contemporary history or world issues classes...[or] a physical education class. As well, satire is also a sophisticated form of humour that appeals to the critical, sometimes cynical, minds of many older adolescents. Highly Recommended.

Canadian Materials

The targets of Allemang's breezy verse include everyone from Stephen Harper to Don Cherry to Martha Stewart to Osama bin Laden.

Quill and Quire

Witty, satirical missives written in rhyme... clever, made-to-order poems.

Globe and Mail