Gail Fox

Gail Fox is a Canadian poet who was raised in Connecticut and upper New York State, but moved to Kingston, Ontario in 1967. It was there she began writing seriously and became associated with the poets at Queen’s University. The first of her many poetry collections, The Dangerous Season, appeared in 1969. She also became editor of the Kingston-based journal Quarry.

She later was married for a season to New Brunswick poet Fred Cogswell, who died in 2004. Her selected poems The End of Innocence (Oberon) was published in 1988, and The Dark Side of the Moon (St. Thomas Poetry Series) in 2000. At this point Fox, who lived in New Brunswick, began focussing on her painting.

The Beginning of Contemplation

(For Margaret Avison)

The countryside sparks and blazes, and
diehard leaves upon the branches burn with
the same intensity that collapses stars.

I tell you truly that now I know the shape
of goldenrod, that God, the fireball, against
a backdrop of deep pines, is sinking into my
head at the velocity of light.

From undisclosed sources, the pain in my
head is as quiet as overhanging grasses,
brown, frozen, stiff as driftwood from some
immense ocean.

This is the beginning of contemplation.
This, the sparkling rocks and golden
butterflies, is the living Jesus. Gorgeous
the sun over the slim legs of the evening.

Entry written by D.S. Martin. He is the author of six poetry collections including Angelicus (2021, Poiema/Cascade), plus three anthologies — available through Wipf & Stock. His new book The Role of the Moon, inspired by the Metaphysical Poets, is now available from Paraclete Press.