Accidents After Happening: Poems
$15.99-
“One of the most imaginatively inventive poets in the country.” — Pacific Rim Review of Books
The accidents of Priest’s collection are definitely not all “happy.” They move through a full range of human emotions: dread, grief, anger, ecstasy, lust and empathy. Plus some magic levity. This is poetry you will want to recite aloud: lyrical love poems, sonnets, satires, ghazals, curses, and bitter invective. These are not snobby poems — they want and welcome readers who love euphony, who enjoy tasteful eroticism, who rage at injustice. People who grieve and gush — smart people who think critically and form their own opinions. And for those with a taste for “brevity forever.” Accidents After Happening also contains a whole new catalog of Priest’s aphorisms, proverbs, maxims, and sayings — the kind of work that recently prompted Canadian literary icon Margaret Atwood to take to Twitter and praise Priest’s “snappy funny spot-on micro poems — plus much more.”
Celebrated as “the people's poet,” Priest’s words have been debated in the Ontario legislature, posted in the Transit system, quoted in the Farmer's Almanac, embedded in cement, sung on Sesame Street, and turned into two hit songs: “Song Instead of a Kiss,” a number one hit for Alannah Myles, and the recent top ten hit by Indigenous balladeer Julian Taylor “Seeds (They Tried to Bury Us).”
Listen to the The Promise of Peace: Lyrics (click to expand)
The Promise of Peace
If I could be the water
when peace is cracked and dry
If I could be a shelt'ring place
when peace is cast aside
Even when my table's full
and I sit before the feastMay I always keep a place in my heart
for the promise of peaceIf I could be a feather
when peace is try,n to fly
If I could be a single step
when peace needs to climb high
Even when I'm locked in doubt
and I fear there's no releaseMay I always keep a place in my heart
for the promise of peaceO we must be the sunshine
when peace is lost and dark
and we must be the bread of love
when peace is cold and starved
Even in the threat of war
though hopes shall fade or ceaseMay we always keep a place in our hearts
for the promise of peaceIf I can be the smallest breeze
when peace is stalled at sea
If I must lay my anger down
then let me take a knee
If I love this tired earth
and its child, humanityMay I always keep a place in my heart
for the promise of peace
May I always keep a place in my heart
for the promise of peaceBUY FROM:
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People’s poet Robert Priest has achieved bestseller status as both a songwriter and a poet. He lives in Toronto, ON.
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Published: September 2025
ISBN: 9781770418530
Dimensions: 5.5 x 8.5 in.
Pages: 136
