Robert Currie’s most recent publication, One-Way Ticket, has been shortlisted for the poetry award at this year’s Saskatchewan Book Awards, and he’s pleased to have made the exclusive list.
“It feels exciting. There are a lot of good poetry books published in Saskatchewan this year, so it's very nice to be shortlisted; I was happy,” said Currie.
The collection is Currie’s longest book of poetry and features several sections, each with its own theme of sorts. These topics range from personal poems to those inspired by others, to some approaching the topic of life’s end.
One section, called “Inspiration Everywhere,” is a collection of poems inspired by paintings and lines from other poems.
“A few years ago, Gerry Hill was Poet Laureate in Saskatchewan, and he had this Poetry Month project where he would put on the website a line from another Saskatchewan poet and see if that prompted people to write poems,” said Currie. “And I think I did a half a dozen poems from that.”
The poetry that Currie writes is meant for anyone to enjoy, not just other poets.
“I think that it's approachable. I'm really interested in writing poetry that the general public will like if they read it, rather than just other poets. And I've really had some good feedback on it,” said Currie.
Currie’s published career started back when he was a kid, as he fondly remembers having a story of his published in the United Church magazine. All of his Sunday school peers were excited to read something by someone they know.
The influence that really drew him to poetry was Canadian poet Raymond Souster, who Currie discovered in university.
“I discovered a little chapbook of his called When We Are Young. And the poems really spoke to me and I thought, ‘oh, I should try doing, that.’ So he was one real inspiration for writing poetry,” said Currie.
Currie has been shortlisted for the Saskatchewan Book Awards several times but has never won, and is looking forward to attending the event on Apr. 27.
“It's fun to be there and it's exciting to see who's going to win the different awards,” said Currie. “Because most writers in Saskatchewan know maybe not all the other writers, but a lot of them, usually you're seeing your friends go up there and collect their awards.”
One-Way Ticket is available for purchase from Post Horizon Booksellers, located at 57 High St. W., or from online retailers.
