The First FourHundred Poemsof a Compulsive Obsessive Ideational Psychotic
Keith Irwin
Design by Art Szabo
From the forwards
Plate I — The paste-up
A mentor told him to write.
This opening volume articulates the drama of being adopted into a strict Christian prairie home at two and a half months old in 1958. This story is filled with anger and resentment towards my adoptive mother, a rigid Christian as a young woman. I was at odds with her for much of my life, but I learned to forgive her. Anger and resentment are powerful emotions as you will see as you read this. It is imperative that one learns to forgive in life as I have learned in order to have peace of mind.
I thank my great mentor Wes Pascoe for helping me to externalize the story in my late twenties. He encouraged me to write and compose songs. Many of the poems were written to be song lyrics. The process eventually led to successful medication for my condition at age 34 in 1992.
As I approach 70, the next marker in a life of travel, I have accumulated a large number of friends and acquaintances. This volume is dedicated to the following people listed below who showed me a great deal of respect and patience during my early adult years when my neuroses was at its worst. Most of these people have moved on in life, but I will always have excellent memories of how capable they were and no doubt are today. I wish all of them and many others well as they age.
From the forwards
In his own words
A mentor told him to write.
This opening volume articulates the drama of being adopted into a strict Christian prairie home at two and a half months old in 1958. This story is filled with anger and resentment towards my adoptive mother, a rigid Christian as a young woman. I was at odds with her for much of my life, but I learned to forgive her. Anger and resentment are powerful emotions as you will see as you read this. It is imperative that one learns to forgive in life as I have learned in order to have peace of mind.
I thank my great mentor Wes Pascoe for helping me to externalize the story in my late twenties. He encouraged me to write and compose songs. Many of the poems were written to be song lyrics. The process eventually led to successful medication for my condition at age 34 in 1992.
As I approach 70, the next marker in a life of travel, I have accumulated a large number of friends and acquaintances. This volume is dedicated to the following people listed below who showed me a great deal of respect and patience during my early adult years when my neuroses was at its worst. Most of these people have moved on in life, but I will always have excellent memories of how capable they were and no doubt are today. I wish all of them and many others well as they age.
“If one has to run silent one learns to run deep.”
“The aquarian loved me and made no demand.”
“As the pages keep on turnin' / I might as well write it all down.”
1982
Wes Pascoe told him to write.
1992
Diagnosed. He kept writing.
2026
Two paperbacks.
From the foreword · Some of the Women
Book Two
Dedicated to
This volume is dedicated to the following people listed below who showed me a great deal of respect and patience during my early adult years when my neuroses was at its worst.
Wayne Yaskew
Birtle, Canada · 1974
Alex Chuaqui
Russell, Canada · 1975
Mary-Lou LeBlanc
Winnipeg, Canada · 1980
Lisa Muloin
Winnipeg, Canada · 1981
Wes Pascoe
Winnipeg, Canada · 1982
Derrick Fowler
Vancouver, Canada · 1985
Kelly Wintemute
Vancouver, Canada · 1985
Morgan McKenzie
Winnipeg, Canada · 1988
Dejana Sam
Vancouver, Canada · 1990
Corrie George
Port Coquitlam, Canada · 1990
Lyle Chausse
Coquitlam, Canada · 1990
Nicole Thomas
Vancouver, Canada · 1992
Katy Hedalen
Vancouver, Canada · 1992
Tennille Easterbrook
Vancouver, Canada · 1996
Volume 01
Book One
- The Quest for Avalon
- The Psychically Androgynous Man
- The Truth
6 × 9 paperback · Opens Amazon in a new tab
Volume 02
Book Two
“Some of the women are still in the room.”
- 01Some of the Women
- 02How About a Song for the Girls
- 03The Sea of Tranquillity
The second volume turns toward the people in the poems — the women, the songs written for them, and the long quiet at the end.
6 × 9 paperback · Opens Amazon in a new tab
Inside the pages
Plate II
Pages from the table
Index of poems
- Keep Your Head Up
- The Trauma
- The Wild Card
- The Doc
- I Need a Woman
Titles only. The poems live in the books.
Take one home.
Questions about the books, or want a signed copy? Call Keith or send an email.
Call +1 204-720-0300Email 700@mymts.netKeith Irwin · Dauphin, Manitoba · Design by Art Szabo