First Mountain

First Mountain
by Paulette Dubé
Published by Thistledown Press
Review by Sharon Adam
$15.95 ISBN 978-1-897235-33-1

This volume of poetry is thin, but the contents are definitely not. Ms Dubé layers her writer’s voice with a variety of subjects, all of which populate her life in the mountains. Time and space revolve around images that are both familiar and spiritual. Her sharp observations and specific recollections engage the reader and encourage further exploration into this small but powerful time capsule.

The pattern of words that the author evokes rises from her experiences living in the foothills of Jasper, Alberta. They evoke feelings of peace and calm while triggering memories in our own lives. The poems are not titled, rather they are numbered like the pages of a diary, or journal. They meander throughout the landscape, bringing the life of the wilderness to the heart of the suburbanite. These reflections of time and place introduce a sense of calm and quiet the mind so that our inner voices can hear and respond to the rhythm and cadence of the poetry. She has pushed back the of wave of civilization with its tendency to erode our natural life experience.

The journal style is new and very reader friendly. The language Ms Dubé uses conjures sharp, clear images that reflect her emotions and transfer them to the reader. This is a wonderful addition to your library, one that you will return to again and again.

Ms. Dubé has written four books, including her novel Talon, which has won several awards. “First Mountain” was a CBC Literary Award winner in 2005. She lives and works in Jasper, Alberta.

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