Ex Nihilo

Poetry. A bilingual collection of renga poetry by two of Canada's most celebrated poets in English and in French; each writing in his respective language in response to the other. A project of discourse itself; shared in dialogue between two poets; as they explore Novalis' definition of poetry as the truly absolute real. The poetic act is world-changing; the agglomeration of atoms as they fall through space--a sort of elective affinity; or state of grace--to constitute Being. If Lao Tzu reminds us that the Dao that can be named is not the eternal Dao; this renga; suffused with elements of the natural world; also recognizes that; in the words of Angelus Silesius; the unnameable; which we usually call God; is expressed and revealed through the Word. L (c)veill (c) and Bloggett share an unprecedented dialogue that possesses both paradox and complete clarity of word in Canada's two official languages.

With poems that phase between mythologies; E.D. Blodgett and J.R. L (c)veill (c) lend their voices to a chorus of Orpheus; Bede; and Ariel. Ex Nihilo reflects a friendship between poets that ends at the moment of illumination; when figures of speech are taken literally as a dictionary.--Nathan Dueck