Sojourns

<p><strong style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)><em>Sojourns</em> is a superb poetry collection by John Drudge one of Canada's greatest living poets.</strong></p><p><br></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>These enchanting multi-layered poems capture the excitement and cultural buzz of Paris Street life and every other place infusing them with the poet's own personal journey of sage reflection. His scintillating prose seduces the reader into each memorable </span><em style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>Sojourn </em><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>of discovery as a kindred spirit. Drudge's poetry has an enduring depth of observational perception and inventive poetic language making </span><em style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>Sojourns</em><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)> asumptuous feast of poetry.</span></p><p><strong style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>-Strider Marcus Jones - Poet/Editor of <em>Lothlorien Poetry Journal</em></strong></p><p><br></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>John Drudge's verses tap into that timeless desire to see the world. At the same time Drudge has readers reflect on what it means to be human. His verse unfolds these settings rich with descriptions and beauty. Drudge invites you on a journey not just to see through his eyes but for readers to explore their inner acres. How will you answer?</span></p><p><br></p><p><strong style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>Praise for <em>Sojourns</em></strong></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>As the title implies this collection of poems is about the journeys we undertake both internal and external. John Drudge invites us to join him as he rambles around the globe. In the first half he often travels with a beloved partner and we become privy to their intimate moments. It was truly refreshing to read simple unironic poems about love beauty and a healthy relationship. For a time these poems take us on the perfect getaway days and nights filled with romance food wine culture and breathtaking scenery. Through Drudge's eyes we experience the special freedom that travel affords-not just being relieved of our usual burdens and routines but the liberation that comes from being anonymous which allows us to be more wholly ourselves. (And to get drunk before noon.) These poems are both introspective and expansive wistful imminently accessible achingly human. Most of them are quite short but they pack entire days of sightseeing into their brief lines. Then around the midway point the tone shifts. In Havana the sight of old bullet holes in a wall reminds us that conflict is an ever-present reality. We see the ruins of Pompeii and suddenly anonymity takes on a new meeting-alone in a foreign city we find ourselves alienated. At some point we must confront the multitudes of people who've trodden these same paths before us-ordinary people with ordinary lives just like us. Eventually everyone achieves anonymity. Eventually everyone is lost to time. Gently Drudge has us face these unpleasant truths before leading us back into friendlier territory. The final entries convey a sense of winding down as the poet brings us home-not just the physical place but to the people we love and above all to ourselves.</span></p><p><strong style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>-Laura Scharhag <em>Moonlight and Monsters</em></strong></p><p><br></p><p><br></p>