“Soft Where by Marcus McCann is a hard-hitting cutting edge poetic expose of a world filled with experimentation and valour. This stunning book explores the possibilities of bringing image to life, written in the language of the people and soaked in a heart of sapphire. The jury was intoxicated by this book, and feels this young writer should be encouraged in every and all ways—to the full extent of poetic promise. The language in Soft Where is as stark and meaningful as the images which express a lifestyle hard-lived and yet as delicate as an origami bird.”—Gerald Lampert Award jury citation

MARCUS McCANN (he/him) is a lawyer who has been involved in a number of high-profile legal projects in the areas of sexuality and LGBTQ rights. He is a former managing editor of Xtra in Toronto and Ottawa. The author of three previous books, his writing has been shortlisted for the Gerald Lampert and Robert Kroetsch awards, and won the John Newlove Award and the EJ Pratt Medal for poetry. Born in Hamilton, Marcus now lives in Toronto.

Marcus McCann's profile page

• Short-listed, Gerald Lampert Memorial Award

“Soft Where by Marcus McCann is a hard-hitting cutting edge poetic expose of a world filled with experimentation and valour. This stunning book explores the possibilities of bringing image to life, written in the language of the people and soaked in a heart of sapphire. The jury was intoxicated by this book, and feels this young writer should be encouraged in every and all ways—to the full extent of poetic promise. The language in Soft Where is as stark and meaningful as the images which express a lifestyle hard-lived and yet as delicate as an origami bird.”—Gerald Lampert Award jury citation

“If Marcus McCann is getting just half the amount of action he writes about, he’s got to be the Ottawa’s greatest swordsman a job usually reserved for a Senator or some other exalted type.

Then again, his poetry is so sexed, so charged with the innate kink(s) of language play always a bed roll, always another way to make love that he could just as easily be celibate and still make the earth shake.

This is not poetry for cowards, for people who enjoy their artful dalliances only from the big, comfy chair of un-reality. Underneath all Mr. McCann’s manic word-smithing beats a strong heart and a vigorous appetite. God help the poor young man, but he is well on his way to becoming the queer Irving Layton.

Oh well, nothing exudes like excess.”—RM Vaughan

Gerald Lampert Award jury citation