Between the Bell Struck and the Silence

How does the rain sleep and where does the silence go? In her latest book of poetry, Between the Bell Struck and the Silence, Governor-General-Award-winning Pamela Porter contemplates the mysteries of existence. Porter skillfully reimagines familiar emotions: joy, loss, and healing are made new through descriptions of the flight of music, the spirits that dance between dusk and dawn, the blessings of coyotes and chickadees. Themes of Christian theology and the life and work of Van Gogh are woven throughout this rich tapestry of philosophical exploration and the healing powers of art. Between the Bell Struck and the Silence is a profound offering that delves into the essence of what it means to be an artist and to experience the striking state of being alive, with all of its joys and sorrows. With this introspective collection, Porter invites a generous appreciation for the world and life itself.

AUTHOR

Pamela Porter

Pamela Porter’s work has won more than a dozen international, national, provincial, and local awards, including the Governor General’s Award, the Gwendolyn MacEwan Poetry Prize, the Malahat Review’s 50th Anniversary Poetry Prize, and has appeared on the CBC, Pat Lowther and Raymond Souster Award shortlists. Pamela lives near Sidney, BC, with her family and a menagerie of rescued horses, dogs, and cats.

Reviews

“Between the Bell Struck and the Silence echoes with hope for the lost and suffering: how art heals, a secret that Van Gogh knew and used in his painting landscapes as if his soul were included in those nervous, heartfelt strokes of his existence. These are finely crafted poems. Pamela Porter addresses our residence here on earth; standing alone in a field and contemplating the stars in their luminous exaggeration above, our troubled gaze often rejoices.”

—Russell Thorburn, author of Somewhere We’ll Leave the World