Very Bright, Almost Pretty
- Publisher
- Frontenac House Ltd.
- Initial publish date
- Nov 2020
- Category
- Canadian
-
Paperback / softback
- ISBN
- 9781989466148
- Publish Date
- Nov 2020
- List Price
- $19.95
Classroom Resources
Where to buy it
Description
Very Bright, Almost Pretty, by Alexander Williamson explores the largely under-represented impact of Cystic Fibrosis, a life-threatening disease affecting over four thousand Canadians, and their families. The poems wander through hopelessness, the fight for health, quiet moments of gratitude in the face of mortality, and dark, urgent prayers, joys, and ideals. At once visceral and contemplative, these poems ask what it takes to live a doomed life, and what it takes to reconcile with death.
About the author
Contributor Notes
Alexander Williamson is a Canadian living with cystic fibrosis, and he is very lucky to be in Canada while having CF. Mostly Alex only cares about books and fighting people. He writes scary stories and sad poems; he fences and boxes too. He has a BA in English from Mount Royal University, and that made a big difference, but most of what he learned came from falling off of things, getting lost, or being punched in the face. Very Bright, Almost Pretty is his first book.
Excerpt: Very Bright, Almost Pretty (by (author) Alex Williamson)
Moth
A dead moth, trapped behind the blinds, now fallen to the floor. Poor guy snuck into a warm place with nothing to eat. Myself, sitting on my hospital bed, alone with all my life desperate to be more than this moment. I don’t want to turn to dust on the linoleum. I don’t want to die following the rules of my genetics. Tomorrow afternoon the maid will be here sweep away the corpse, maybe without even noticing. I won’t let it happen. From my open window I offer to wind the crumbling moth. One last flight, no one saw coming.