It might seem odd to be talking Canada on July 4, but the news from that mighty nation has been good of late, regarding the visiting Royal newlyweds. Despite a few separatist rabble-rousers, their tour of Canada, and especially Montreal and Quebec City, has been delightful, and full of genuine warmth and curiosity. William has spoken French, and Kate has expressed interest in Anne of Green Gables. They have met the Huron chief. They have sailed the St. Lawrence, that great river. They've planted trees, welcomed new citizens - and carried it all off with ease, and charm, and energy. Canada will remain loyal for the next century, if it keeps going like this - and no reason to think it won't. Hopefully, this visit will inspire people in the UK to holiday in Canada.
THAT HANDSOME MAN A PERSONAL BRIEF REVIEW BY TODD SWIFT I could lie and claim Larkin, Yeats , or Dylan Thomas most excited me as a young poet, or even Pound or FT Prince - but the truth be told, it was Thom Gunn I first and most loved when I was young. Precisely, I fell in love with his first two collections, written under a formalist, Elizabethan ( Fulke Greville mainly), Yvor Winters triad of influences - uniquely fused with an interest in homerotica, pop culture ( Brando, Elvis , motorcycles). His best poem 'On The Move' is oddly presented here without the quote that began it usually - Man, you gotta go - which I loved. Gunn was - and remains - so thrilling, to me at least, because so odd. His elegance, poise, and intelligence is all about display, about surface - but the surface of a panther, who ripples with strength beneath the skin. With Gunn, you dressed to have sex. Or so I thought. Because I was queer (I maintain the right to lay claim to that
Comments
When I went to Canada ten years ago, though, I looked for more interesting sights, such as the Plains of Abraham battlefield in Quebec City and the balcony of Montreal City Hall where de Gaulle made his notorious speech.