13 days
Alison P. Birch
on the 13 days, my best friend was in a coma
I learned more about faith than all my Sundays in church
I learned about βfaith
I learned about loss and grief I learned we don't always get what we want
or what we feel we need I learned we might have the worst days of our lives
I learned we might feel we will never recover
I learned we may spend hours and days on the floor praying and coming undone begging our god for a miracle that our best friend, or child
or the love of our life will wake up, be ok again
and our faith keeps us going and may be renewed hundreds of times a day giving us strength, breath, and hope I learned that when it feels like hope runs out and maybe they don't wake up or won't be with us here ever again on earth faith can keep us going
faith can fill us with peace that surpasses understanding faith may be
the only thing that can
Paddlerpress.
Poem for Tuesday
13 days.
I was honored to have this poem included. Oct 1st, 2025. Thank you, Guest Editor Peter Lilly & EIC Deryck Robertson @paddlerpress.bsky.social
β13 days
I learned about faith
I learned about loss and grief. I learned we don't always get what we want
23.12.2025 12:02
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Paddler Press
Peterborough's Poetry and Art Journal
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving in the US. I hope you find yourself surrounded with family and friends at this time. We all know what comes next. Paddler Press is no exception in trying to eke out an existance in the poetry world. We'd love it if you'd slide over to paddlerpress.ca and order a book or two.
26.11.2025 21:11
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Congratulations to the Pushcart nominations from @paddlerpress.bsky.social! Wonderful to see two poems I selected for Issue 15 nominated.
25.11.2025 10:54
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Whoa. Floored and honored to be nominated for a Pushcart Prize from @paddlerpress.bsky.social ! My first!
23.11.2025 23:28
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Our 2025 @pushcartprize.bsky.social nominations. Thanks for trusting Paddler Press with your work.
23.11.2025 22:15
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A wonderful post day earlier this week. Overwhelmed to hold issue 15 of @paddlerpress.bsky.social , full of such amazing poetry, photography and art. It was such a privilege to guest edit this edition. You can read my foreword and my poem βYour Telling Meβ:
21.11.2025 18:28
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05.11.2025 19:15
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Paddler Press Volume 15 β Faith
New poetry, art, and CNF from international contributors. Guest edited by Peter Lilly. Featuring: Tracie Adams β Sharisa Aidukaitis β Marie Anne Arreola β Ron Bearwald β Johβ¦
Vol. 15 - Faith print copies have landed. These are beautiful, full colour books (printed in Canada) that would make a great addition to your bookshelf and as a gift. Only $15CAD. #Poetry #Poem #CNF #Art
paddlerpress.ca/product/padd...
04.11.2025 17:18
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Image
YouTube video by peterlillypoetry
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ch8Y...
This visual poem, featured in issue 15 of @paddlerpress.bsky.social, is a kind of circular liturgy, if there is such a thing. Read and listen! You know, if you want to...
01.11.2025 23:53
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Poetry
Bradford Middleton β Dan Husband β @paddlerpress.bsky.social β Erin Vance β Ethan Clark β Eve Lee β @ewenglass.bsky.social β Faith-Anne Bell β @gphydeauthor.bsky.social β @jdclappwrites.bsky.social β @jfindura.bsky.social β Joshua Walker β
29.10.2025 11:43
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Issue Five Poetry
Bradford Middleton β Dan Husband β Deryck N. Robertson β Erin Vance β Ethan Clark β Eve Lee β Ewen Glass β Faith-Anne Bell β GP Hyde β JD Clapp β John Findura β Joshua Walker β Lee Fraser β LindaAnn LoSchiavo β Owen Townend β Paul Callus β Peter Devonald β Rachel Burrows β Sam Bartle β Scott McLane β Wendy Westley β
The text is on a black background, image of an orange leaf behind the text. Underbelly Press logo in the bottom right corner.
Issue Five
Short Fiction
Amy Leacy β Denise Bayes β Derek Jennings β Emyr Payne β Heather Walker β Ian Johnson β John Storey β Jupiter Jones β L. Duthie β Laura Cooney β Madeleine Armstrong β Rebecca Tiger β Scott MacLeod β T. E. O'Connor β
The text is on a black background, image of an orange leaf behind the text. Underbelly Press logo in the bottom right corner.
Issue 5
Art & Photography
D.C. Nobes β GP Hyde β James Diaz β Jill Eloise Vance β Laurie Avadis β Mide Miles β
The text is on a black background, image of an orange leaf behind the text. Underbelly Press logo in the bottom right corner.
Weβre excited to announce the incredible contributors for Issue 5: AUTUMN!
Huge thanks to everyone who submitted & supported Underbelly Press in shaping our first themed issue. It's bursting with stunning pieces, each offering a unique take on autumn. Release date coming soon!
29.10.2025 11:38
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Read
Ghost Light Lit
Our EIC's latest piece published today with Ghost Light Lit. Issue #4, of myths & monsters.
www.ghostlightlit.com/read.html
29.10.2025 04:01
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Our Autumn issue is now on its way to subscribers, featuring Summer Wishes (2023) by Ann Manuel on the cover.
Hereβs a preview of whatβs inside: thefiddlehead.ca/issue/305
23.10.2025 14:59
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It's muh Birthday. Time to celebrate. Use October20 at checkout for a 20% discount on all titles.
20.10.2025 19:31
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The graphic announcing Shelley Pacholok as the winner of The Fiddlehead's 2025 Creative Nonfiction Contest
We're excited to announce the winner of our 2024 Creative Nonfiction Contest is Shelley Pacholok for her essay "How Not to Say Good-Bye to Your Professor"! Keep an eye out for when our autumn issue goes live to read an excerpt from her essay!
See the full announcement on our website:
bit.ly/4obSKPU
10.10.2025 17:09
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From my foreword to issue 15 of @paddlerpress.bsky.social "FAITH" which is was privileged to guest edit. I'm so proud to have been a part of this beautiful issue.
paddlerpress.ca/issues-trip-...
"This collection is an embodiment of our shared humanity in its beautiful creative diversity."
05.10.2025 10:34
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Image
YouTube video by peterlillypoetry
A video reading of my poem Image which was in the recent issue of @paddlerpress.bsky.social "Faith": www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ch8Y...
13.10.2025 15:46
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Image
YouTube video by peterlillypoetry
Image youtu.be/Ch8YY-1T_TE?...
Here's a reading of my visual poem Image, from issue 15 of
@paddlerpress.bsky.social
I tried to get the audio reading to represent both the beginning and end of the sentences, and fluid continuity of the circles.
Check out the whole wonderful issue!
03.10.2025 15:04
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Very excited to have 2 of my poems in Faith, a new anthology from @paddlerpress.bsky.social
poetry #whatdoesfaithmean #faith #writing
02.10.2025 19:23
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Very delighted to have my two poems in the newest issue of @paddlerpress.bsky.social - Vol. 15, Faith. Huge thanks to Deryck and Peter @plpoetry.bsky.social for bringing this really wonderful issue together!
01.10.2025 14:07
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13 days
Alison P. Birch
on the 13 days, my best friend was in a coma
I learned more about faith than all my Sundays in church
I learned about βfaith
I learned about loss and grief I learned we don't always get what we want
or what we feel we need I learned we might have the worst days of our lives
I learned we might feel we will never recover
I learned we may spend hours and days on the floor praying and coming undone begging our god for a miracle that our best friend, or child
or the love of our life will wake up, be ok again
and our faith keeps us going and may be renewed hundreds of times a day giving us strength, breath, and hope I learned that when it feels like hope runs out and maybe they don't wake up or won't be with us here ever again on earth faith can keep us going
faith can fill us with peace that surpasses understanding faith may be
the only thing that can
Honored to have my poem published today, alongside many excellent writers. October 1st, 2025. Thank you, Guest Editor Peter Lily & Editor Deryck Robertson
@paddlerpress.bsky.social
β 13 days
I learned about -faith
I learned about loss and grief. I learned we don't always get what we want
01.10.2025 18:04
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I'm immensely proud of being involved with this outstanding issue. There are so many fantastic poems & prose pieces from wonderful authors whom I was very humbled to read. Give it a read, & support @paddlerpress.bsky.social
Thanks so much to Deryck for the opportunity to guest edit.
01.10.2025 18:34
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@paddlerpress.bsky.social has done something special with the Faith Issue! Itβs so gorgeous and inspiring. Iβm thrilled to be included alongside these amazing writers/poets.
01.10.2025 19:38
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Volume 15 - Faith, is now live to the world. Printed copies will be available soon. paddlerpress.ca/issues-trip-...
01.10.2025 17:59
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The leaves were just beginning to change in Algonquin Park when I was there a couple of weeks ago. That's my happy place in every season. Well, maybe not black fly season...
30.09.2025 01:25
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Vol. 15 cover reveal. Faith is a journey, a path. It isn't a destination in and of itself. We all tread this road differently, face obstacles, aks questions, and sometimes, get lost. The work in this wonderful issue speak to this journey in beautiful ways. Available Oct 1.
30.09.2025 01:22
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From our #FatBearWeek contest a couple of years ago.
@GirlWhoPaddles took home some prizes. Send your poems to paddler@canoeideas.ca by Oct 15.
30.09.2025 00:13
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Fat Bear Week 2025
Fat Bear Week 2025
Have you been voting for your favourite fat bear? explore.org/fat-bear-week
Don't forget, get your fat bear poems in to paddler@canoeideas.ca by October 15. Winner gets some cool swag.
29.09.2025 23:58
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Vol. 15 - Faith draft is about to land in your inboxes. Please review you work and fill in the Google form. Issue drops on October 1, 2025.
26.09.2025 13:37
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