E/view: The Occupied World
Established local poet and writer Alice Major explores how we occupy our space and time on earth in her collection of poetry The Occupied World . BY PAULA E. KIRMAN The Occupied World S OME people have drinking buddies. I have writing buddies. We critique each other's work. Actually, I have drinking buddies also, but I digress. One of my writing buddies recently handed me a copy of Alice Major 's poetry collection The Occupied World . Major is well known on Edmonton's poetry circuit. She was the city's first Poet Laureate and is a familiar face at the annual Edmonton Poetry Festival in April. Published in 2006, The Occupied World is a clear presentation of why Major is so well regarded. Her language and imagery is at once familiar and other worldly, juxtaposing the local and familiar with other times and places. Through her words, Major begins with the theme of building a city, using the framework of rituals used in Roman times to sanctify ...