Bradley McIlwain lives in Ontario, Canada where he is inspired by songs in nature, and examining our relationships within it. His poems have appeared in the New Verse News, The Open Mouse, Platform Magazine (Victoria University in Melbourne, Australia) and in anthologies such as Something’s Brewing, Kind of a Hurricane Press (2014), The 5-2 Crime Poetry Weekly Vol. 2 (2013) and in Love Notes: A Collection of Romantic Poetry from Vagabondage Press (2012).
Bradley graduated from the University of Toronto's iSchool, where he received his M.I. in Library and Information Science. His new book of poems, Elementals (IOWI, 2015) is available on Amazon and Indigo.
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Note: Every Origami micro-chapbook may be downloaded & printed from the website.
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► Bradley's microchaps & selected poems are available below. You may also listen to his reading of his poem, Three Mile Lake, while reading the text.
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Origami Microchap |
Selected Poem(s) |
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| Stanzas to Medusa | ||
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Click title to download microchap
Cover art: Medusa by Theresa Donnelly
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I Tarot at my table Queen of swords Cuts my intuition And clarity — Medusa springs From tea leaves: Leftover chai In harvest light Reflecting what I’ve withheld What I’ve held Too close upon waking Dreams That became bridled in Shadow
II In this small apartment Green granite counters The envy of mornings Shimmering and cold. I ask myself: Who sourced the stone Cut the form That catches the wandering eye?
III You can’t draw blood from a stone But stone has been cut with blood Bright green In the sheen of Perseus Aegis shield Poised like a paparazzi’s camera flash Capturing scars You prayed no one else would see — Not even him. You sought the antidote To the snakes in your head Searching for Pandora’s lost hope Until the cold, final tableaux: Your heart as heavy as stone. |
IV Lured to death or bliss Poseidon’s sacred kiss Swims over serpent lips Of Medusa’s succulent Smile — Poetry in moonlight Chasing an ouroborus tail.
V Earth under my boots Sacred space becoming Ritual Transforming soul — In darkness Mars sharpens the stars of war. I follow.
VI A cry pierces the night. Medusa slithers silently In moonlight temples Searching for her other self — Who will free her From her guilt weighted stone?
″ Bradley McIlwain © 2021 |
| Hierophant | ||
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Click title to download microchap
Cover collage by JanK • A Hierophant is an interpreter of sacred mysteries & arcane principles. |
I Lone lamppost Through piercing shadows
II Crows Overland, in the trees
III Horned God in dew |
IV Water whispers
V Said a fortuneteller may three of cups and ace of wands VI Sage and thyme to call the corners • Bradley McIlwain © 2020 |
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Click title to download microchap
 Cover:
Moonlight Contemplation
by Lauri Burke
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Holding On Martha —
you are light years from here but so close like a falling star did I wish on you? I needed a friend. Some days I feel so far sinking into the space of what’s incomplete — Dreams flicker in faded foxfires of what could be. Your silence more powerful than words. There is a ghost now where a soul should be. Your poems shine moonlight on my skin when I am lost, holding on to your smile -
Winter Walks
your palm in mine keeping us warm on snowy evenings dreaming beneath the soft glow of a silk moon — and tonight how the stars move in your eyes fills my heart with light •
Bradley McIlwain © 2016
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Day and Night
morning —
of a half remembered dream
II in the field
the sun blushes her greatest treasure crisp leaves |
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Click title to download microchap
http://susanlucasart.com/ •
Bradley McIlwain reads
Three Mile Lake
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Three Mile Lake There are whispers in the
cedar — out here, cold cuts breath like bone Birds crack twilight effortless as manna In the morning I will break camp with fog — wander listless valleys lucid as a salmon in rain ·
Bradley McIlwain © 2014
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Philosophers Walk Robin from a half a cold valley still life endless • Bradley McIlwain © 2014 |
