This is the bright and simplistic cover for Without A Voice (1985). The book is very small, a little more than 15 cm long and 11.5 cm wide. Thirty-one pages in all.
The back of the book has a statement from the poet:
“I have cerebral palsy. I was born with a kind of brain damage which has resulted in my being unable to speak. For this reason I cannot always express what I really feel…”
Found in June 2011.
I bought this book of poetry in June 2011. It was published in 1985. The plain black cover with the picture on the back caught my eye.
I have posted a poem from the book below. It is fairly representative of the poetry found inside. Jeen takes a straightforward approach. The lines rhyme in a consistent pattern. And they are not obscure rhymes, these are common, arms/charms rhymes. The emotions conveyed are common emotions too. But rather than reduce the poems, this approach enhances them.
“Newfoundland Across the Bay” is interesting as well because it represents a set of circumstances that occurred frequently in Newfoundland in the past. The problem does not usually occur to such a dramatic effect today. Transportation is much better than it was. Communication has improved drastically. But the island is still isolated, and to leave one place for another can still mean being away from friends and family.
This is the Spring 1985 issue of the Newfoundland Quarterly. The advertisement featured below was found on page 2 of the issue. I think it is a pretty good example of a style of print advertising that is not very common today. Besides its style, the advert is endearing for other reasons. It references Newfoundland Telephone, along with the old, previously ubiquitous, logo. And it has a very indirect way of putting across its message. At first I was wondering how seagulls were able to answer the phone.
Found at Afterwords bookstore, Duckworth St., St. John’s, on 29/05/2011.
