Description
Intricate Armada is Ian’s first collection. Published in 2005.
All proceeds from the sales of Ian’s books support the work of the Holy Trinity Refugee Committee.
During 38 years of teaching English Literature first at the University of Alberta then at Atkinson College York University, lan Sowton reviewed a good deal of contemporary Canadian poetry. He also wrote poetry and intermittently even published some of it as far back as the days of Edge (Edmonton), in which two of the poems here -now considerably revised-first appeared, and Prism: a magazine of contemporary writing Vol. 1, No. 1 (Vancouver). Which must make him some kind of still breathing monument…One of the pleasures of retirement, he notes, is to have had enough unbespoke time to write many of the poems comprising this book.
Intricate Armada offers a considerable range of voices and moods: celebratory, exasperated, ironic, whimsical, contemplative; and a number of poetic kinds such as ballads, political satires, elegies and “psalms”. There are even some visits to rhyme, in the outskirts to which it has been consigned during the mayoralty of free verse. I hope”, says the author, “that readers will find enough that’s put interestingly and perceptively enough to support poetry’s age-old assertion that it is good for you.”
“Your poem of rage and grief [‘Wreath for the Montreal 14’] is beautiful beyond compare”…
June Callwood, 2005, 2006
