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bpNichol

In the movie, The Last Picture Show movie, the character played by Timothy Bottoms says something to the effect, ‘It hasn’t been the same around here since Sam de Lion died.’

Well recently, Jay MillAr (BookThug) said essentially the same thing in terms of Canadian poetry and bpNichol. It just hasn’t been the same since he died back in 1988.

What always struck me about Barrie Phillip Nichol (aside from incredible pieces of writing such as Negatives (2): Bridge Force) was his generosity towards others especially unknown, struggling writers.

We’ve all been there; sometimes we never leave that station. He didn’t seem to care; always an encouraging word, an outstretched hand.

Something certainly changed back in 1988; I felt it, couldn’t really give voice to it, until Mr. MillAr echoed the sentiment. Sure, it’s probably sentimental or semi-mental to think this way. But there you have it. Something stopped beating back in 1988; a hell of a heart.

Barrie wrote, the poem is dead. The idea was liberating even as I felt the destruction.