Most people would consider it an achievement to publish just one book. But award-winning Sudbury author Michel Dallaire has released two poetry books recently, for a total of 18 books in his lifetime.
“Nomadismes,” co-written with Moroccan poet Aziza Rahmouni, was put out by local French-language publishing company Prise de Parole. “Le Souffle des Dragons” was published by Les Éditions L'Interligne in Ottawa.
Like all of Dallaire's books, the latest two are written in French.
“Nomadismes” came about after Dallaire met Rahmouni through social media, and the two decided to see if they could write poetry together with the aid of social media and email.
“At first she would write something, and I would respond and add to what she'd written,” Dallaire said.
“But in time we decided to add another element, allowing each other to change or intervene in what the other had written. So I could change what she'd written if I didn't agree, and she could do the same, which often led to several versions of the same poem before we were satisfied.
“As much as possible we also attempted to eliminate traces of who had written what — the male or female, the Canadian or Moroccan.”
Although Dallaire and Rahmouni have released a book together, they've never actually met in person.
“Le Souffle des Dragons,” (which translates as "The Breath of Dragons") was written by Dallaire alone, and focuses on the theme of poets of the past.
“The breath of dragons is basically the voices of these poets,” he said.
“This collection is above all an expression of innocence, falling into chaos, the sometimes very powerful force of nostalgia, and combatting that urge to go back in time and re-live moments that we've experienced.”
Dallaire, who, when he's not working on his own poetry and prose, is a copywriter and translator, won a couple of awards last year for his novel, “In Violoncelle pour lune d’automne.”
He was presented with a French-language Trillium Award, as well as the Prix Christine Dumitriu-van-Saanen. Dallaire was nominated for the Trillium Award three times previously.
“I'd been nominated but never won, so I didn't expect very much,” Dallaire said. “The competition was very stiff. It was my turn, I guess.”
“Nomadismes” can be purchased through Prise de Parole's website, and “Le Souffle des Dragons” can be purchased through Les Éditions L'Interligne's website.
