"Give us a brief heart-space to see no sight, Save the One Star in all the crowded night"

Anne Sutherland Brooks was born in Guelph, Ontario, on July 14, 1900. Although Presbyterian, she attended the Catholic Loretto Academy, as well as the Guelph Collegiate Institute. Following this, she earned her teacher's certificate at the London Normal School.

By her mid-twenties, Anne began to attract attention as a poet, with her verses being published in numerous periodicals across Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. In 1927, Ryerson Press published her chapbook of poetry titled, Within a Wicket Gate. One of her poems, "Poverty", was published in the New York Times.

In 1929, Archbishop McNeil made a request through the Loretto Sisters for Anne to send him a selection of Christmas poems for his Christmas greeting card.

Letter from Anne Sutherland to Archbishop McNeil
October 31, 1929

Archbishop McNeil Fonds
MN AH18.120

Anne Sutherland Christmas Poems I-III
Sent to Archbishop McNeil
October 31, 1929

Archbishop McNeil Fonds
MN PB03.12

Anne Sutherland Christmas Poems IV-VI
Sent to Archbishop McNeil
October 31, 1929

Archbishop McNeil Fonds
MN PB03.12

In 1930, six of Anne's poems were included in the anthology, Modern Canadian Poetry. As a member of the Toronto branch of the Canadian Authors Association, she was awarded the members' division poetry prize in 1932 and 1933. In 1934, Theodore Roosevelt Jr. included Anne's poem, "The Bird I Do Not Know", in the Roosevelt Bird Sanctuary Anthology. Her poem, "The Empty Little Cabin", was included in The Desk Drawer Anthology: Poems for the American People.

In 1935, Anne married Edward Arnold Brooks. In addition to caring for their children, John Edward Arnold and Anne Elizabeth, Anne Sutherland Brooks continued to recite her poetry and participate in radio broadcasts of children's stories. She passed away in 1996.

We hope you have enjoyed these beautiful Christmas poems, as well as this special slice of Canadian literary history. Merry Christmas from the staff at ARCAT!

Remembering an Irish Priest and Poet

Since 1998 Canada has designated April as National Poetry Month “to celebrate poetry and its vital place in Canada’s culture”.

Last April we celebrated this event by sharing some of the poems Cardinal Carter had written and self published in his book The Poems of a Soul Friend.

These remain some of our staff favourites, however Cardinal Carter was not the only poet in the history Archdiocese of Toronto.

 

Photograph of Reverend James B. Dollard, from the introduction of Irish Lyrics and Ballads by James B. Dollard, 1917

ARCAT Reference Library 811 DOL 1917

 

Reverend James Dollard served as pastor in the Archdiocese at St. Columbkilles’s in Uptergrove and St. Monica’s and Our Lady of Lourdes in Toronto. He also wrote and published prose in his free time, specializing in sonnets and Irish ballads.

 

The Archives has three volumes of Rev. Dollard’s poems in our reference library. While these aren’t what we normally consider reference material, we are happy to have his poems available for researchers to access.

 

Dollard, James. Irish Mist and Sunshine: A Book of Ballads. Toronto: W.E. Blake, 1901. 

Dollard, James. Poems. Toronto: The Catholic Extension Society of Canada, 1910.

Dollard, James. Irish Lyrics and Ballads. Toronto: McClelland, Goodchild & Steward Ltd, 1917. 

 

Born in Kilkenny in 1872, many of his poems evoke a sense of longing for the Ireland of yore, often calling the country “Erin” in the style of romantic nineteenth century poets and Irish nationalists. While most of the poems are about Ireland, Father Dollard also wrote poems about Canada and religion.

 

Reverend Dollard was uncertain that his Irish ballads would be appreciated in North America, and yet the press offered high praise for his 1910 collection. Nathan Haskell Dole wrote in the Boston Book Culture that "Father Dollard's ballads have all the fire and dash of Kipling's with a firmer poetic touch," and Dr. Thomas O'Hagan in his Canadian Essays wrote: "I have no hesitation in pronouncing Father Dollard the best writer of Irish ballad poetry now living. "

Here is a sampling of poems from Rev. Dollard that are particularly relevant to this year’s National Poetry Month theme, “celebrating nature with poetry:”

 

In Erin.

A broken tower, an ancient cross,
  A brown, bare hill behind;
A sob and a sigh, where the stream flows by,
  A rustling of reeds in the wind.
(Lone whispering of reeds in the wind!) 

A crumbling gable, a ruined cot,
  Dank weeds that batten on the floor;
A gray bog nigh, where curlews cry,
  Like Banshee wailing at the door.
(Ah! The moaning of the Banshee at the door!)

A grim, black coast, and a wintry sea,
  A broken boat on the land,
A fitful caoine from lips unseen,
  Loud clamor of waves on the strand.
(Wild trouble of the waters on the strand.)

A flash of sunshine, a glint of green,
  A hamlet white in the vale;
A laugh and a song where the hurlers throng,
  God’s hope for the future of the Gael.
(Joy springs from the sorrow of the Gael.)
-

Dollard, James. Poems. Toronto: The Catholic Extension Society of Canada, 1910.

ARCAT Reference Library 811 DOL 1910
 

Lakes of the North.

Lakes of the North, flash out in sheed,
Of silver and engirdling green,           
        White birch and fragrant tamarac,
Your myriad beauties vainly screen.

Lakes of the North, how quaintly ring  
Those native sounds---Temiskaming,
Temagami of jewelled sands,
And deeply mirrored Couchiching !

Blue spaces of the happy sky,        
Reflected in your waters lie,          
           When in the hush of cloudless day,
The fretful loon makes eldritch cry!

God’s artist free --- the autumn air,      
The shore-line touches here and there,
    Till deep with gold and rubies set,
The bright wave burns --- a crystal rare.

Lakes of the North, though winter close
Your death-cold lips in mute repose,    
  Not all his icy breath can chill,
The glow your lover’s bosom knows. 
-

Dollard, James. Poems. Toronto: The Catholic Extension Society of Canada, 1910.

ARCAT Reference Library 811 DOL 1910



Song of the Little Villages.*

The pleasant little villages that grace the Irish glynns
Down among the wheat-fields,--- up amid the whins,
The little white walled villages crowding close together,
Clinging to the Old Sod in spite of wind and weather:

Ballytarsney, Ballymore, Ballyboden, Boyle,
Ballingarry, Ballymagorry by the Banks of Foyle,
Ballylaneen, Ballyporeen, Bansha, Ballysadare,
Ballybrack, Ballinalack, Barna, Ballyclare.

The cosy little villages that shelter from the mist,
Where the great West Walls by ocean-spray are kissed;
The happy little villages that cuddle in the sun
When blackberries ripen and the harvest work is done.

Corrymeela, Croaghnakeela, Clogher, Cahirciveen,
Cappaharoe, Carrigaloe, Cashel and Coosheen,
Castlefinn and Carrigtohill, Crumlin, Clara, Clane,
Carrigaholt, Carrigaline, Cloghjordan and Coolrain.

The dreamy little villages, where by the fire at night,
Old Shanachies, with ghostly tale the boldest hearts affright;
The crooning of the wind-blast is wailing Banshee’s cry,
And when the silver hazels stir they say the fairies sigh.

Kilfenora, Kilfinnane, Kinnity, Killylea,
Killmoganny, Kiltamagh, Kilronan and Kilrea,
Killashandra, Kilmacow, Killiney, Killanshee,
Killenaule, Killmyshall, Killorglin and Killeagh.

Leave the little villages, o’er the black seas go,
Learn the stranger’s welcome, learn the exile’s woe,
Leave the little villages, but think not to forget
Afar they’ll rise before your eyes to rack your bosoms yet.

Moneymore, Moneygall, Monivea and Moyne,
Mullinahone, Mullinavatt, Mullagh and Mooncoin
Shanagolden, Shanballymore, Stranorlar and slane,
Toberheena, Toomyvara, Tempo and Stabane.

On the Southern Llanos,--- north where strange light gleams,
Many a yearning exile sees them in his dreams
Dying voices murmur (passed all pain and care)
“Lo! the little villages, God has heard our prayer.”

Lisdoonvarna, Lissadil, Lisdargan, Lisnaskea,
Portglenone, Portarlington, Portumna, Portmagee,
Clonegam and Clonegowan, Cloondara and Clonae,
God bless the little villages and guard them night and day!

*All the names are genuine
-

Dollard, James. Irish Mist and Sunshine: A Book of Ballads. Toronto: W.E. Blake, 1901

ARCAT Reference Library, 811 DOL 1901

Poems of a Soul Friend

Since 1998, April has been designated National Poetry Month to "celebrate poetry and its vital place in Canada’s culture."

During his episcopate, the Archdiocese of Toronto had its very own poet-in-residence in His Eminence, G. Emmett Cardinal Carter.

Cardinal Carter (1912-2003) is often remembered for reading his poetry at various events. In 1979, he founded the Cardinal's Dinner, the largest annual community dinner and fundraiser in the country. It became a tradition for Carter to recite a poem at the end of his Cardinal's Dinner speech.

Photographs Collection, PH18C/104CP

G. Emmett Cardinal Carter gives his Cardinal's Dinner speech at the annual fundraiser, ca. 1990. It became tradition for him to end his speech by reciting one of his poems.

A few years before his death, Cardinal Carter self-published a collection of his favourite poems, entitled The Poems of a Soul Friend. In honour of National Poetry Month, we are sharing selections from this booklet and the draft copies that we hold in the Archives.

Cardinal Carter fonds

Cardinal Carter's self-published book of poems, The Poems of a Soul Friend, as well as the original draft of the opening poem, "I do not have the words of Yeats," written in 1999.

Cardinal Carter fonds

This poem was written a couple of years after Cardinal Carter resigned as Archbishop of Toronto. It speaks of his early career and vocation in hometown Montreal, his appointment to Bishop of London, and to Toronto, where he finished his episcopal duties.

Cardinal Carter fonds

We have written previously about Cardinal Carter's beloved dogs, who were often the subject of his poetry.

Cardinal Carter fonds

An example of one of the poems that Cardinal Carter presented at the Cardinal's Dinner, 1992. It was written when he was leaving the Diocese of London for his appointment as Archbishop of Toronto. Carter had a great appreciation for the outdoors and the waterfront in particular. In addition to Lake Huron, he wrote poems about Fourteen Island Lake, where his family cottaged, Grand Bend, Ontario, and Tergensee in Bavaria.

Cardinal Carter fonds

The final poem of his book, "Steadfast", reflects on growing old.