“Two birds loved
in a flurry of red feathers
like a burst cottonball,
continuing while I drove over them.

I am a good driver, nothing shocks me.”

I bought this book on a whim (it was $2 at a book fair), and I'm so happy that I did. I haven't read any of Ondaatje's novels, but now I want to. He write poetry like a (very good) fiction writer—almost every poem is narrative, rooted in poignant images, relatable characters, bits of dialogue that I think must have come from Ondaatje's life. There's a familiar quality to his poetry, which I think is what got me hooked on it. I feel like I've experienced the same funny, painful moments and that I've come to the same conclusions about love and loneliness and the night sky.

Poetry that awakes your sense of smell, your soul, your suspicion. If you have ever been in love despite yourself or come across an abandoned corpse in a ditch of a morning, these are poems to scratch at your memory. If not, they may just awaken your imagination.

A perfect read for spring: You cant help loving a poem with images so alive and themes so variant. The novelty of Sri Lankan tone and poetic style was an added reason for making it a lovely read. Pleasurable to ear and words are light on tongue like melting sugar crumb. The translations of my Postcards is still my favourite.