"Last Water Song", the first collection of new poetry from award-winning poet Patrick Lane, is divided into two parts. The first part is a series of 16 long elegies on writer acquaintances who have died, including Adele Wiseman, Al Purdy, Earle Birney and Irving Layton. Prosey, relaxed and personal, these are some of the most moving poems Lane has written. The second section consists of 23 lyrics and narratives more typical of Lane's recent work, ranging from the humorous "Teaching Poetry" to the evocative title poem with its hint of finality. This is the work of a great Canadian poet, a collection to treasure.

Reviews

'This collection reveals Lane's courage of expression, his unabashed vulnerability in exploring what is, what was and what might have been.' Chr(45) Darlene Shatford Canadian Literature Journal Autumn 2009