Stephen Bett’s new book of poetry, Re-positioning, is based on a hilarious soft-porn spoof. Each poem begins with a simple blank-face, stark naked line drawing of “boy & girl next door” figures in utterly physically impossible sexual “positions.” Accompanying the text are witty cultural or literary allusions, a calorie burn count for “him” & “her,” equipment required (deodorant, etc.), cautions & hazards (such as requiring a lawyer and/or chiropractor). In this volume, Bett is riffing on language itself. These humorous, self-referential poems are tied to the langue, the argot, not just comic satire. There’s an effort at a more serious humour underlying cultural and philosophical issues that seem to plague us in our increasingly vapid monoculture.

Stephen Bett's writing and college teaching life has been informed by the "counter tradition " of Black Mountain, the San Francisco Renaissance, and the New York School (1st and 2nd generations), and how that played out in Canada with the TISH poets, and beyond. His more recent books are "minimalist " in form, often stretching into "serial poems (book-length "linked poems"). This allows for the surprise of echoing back and forth — everything from idea to image to cadence. Bett's work, like its creator, is recognized as funny, satirical and unique. He lives in Vancouver. Previous books include: Re-positioning , Track This: A Book of Relationship, Extreme Positions, Sass 'n Pass, Three Women, Nota Bene Poems: A Journey, and High-Maintenance.

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