What's the Score?

by David W. McFadden

The often outrageous and always wise follow-up to 2008’s Governor General’s Award–nominated Be Calm, Honey shows David W. McFadden at his most inquisitive and provocative. Here you’ll find ninety-nine poems full of surprises by a Canadian long-distance poet in his sixth decade of writing, a writer who never rests on his laurels or allows himself to become complacent. This is a book full of mystics and Golden Age movie stars, friends of McFadden and long-dead philosophers, and their tales are all told in the poet’s deceptively plainspoken voice.

“[David W. McFadden] is the most readable poet on the planet…. He reminds you to be yourself, to be yourself in the world, and give it a chance to amaze you. While reading his beautiful clear language, you sense that he is a trickster, but you cannot help believing every stanza he writes. If there is any such thing as an essential poet, here he is.” — Judges’ citation, 2008 Griffin Poetry Prize shortlist

“McFadden often addresses serious subjects like mortality, but with a sly, absurdist touch. He’s the archenemy of solemnity… He slips in satirical pokes at human failings and sneaks up on existential questions in a disarmingly offbeat way.” — Barbara Carey, Toronto Star

“Being McFadden, he often confronts losses, real or anticipated, with a wicked if understated sense of humour…. The large range of moods in Be Calm, Honey reflect both the times and the generous spirit of the writer.” — Douglas Barbour, Canadian Literature

“Be Calm, Honey displays masterful wit in a sequence of playful sonnets that engage the slipperiness of moment, thought and experience. There is delightful wisdom and humanity in the quirky disguises and accessibility of his plain speech.” — 2009 Governor General’s Award jury

Genres: Poetry

147 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2012

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads data base.

David William McFadden was a Canadian poet, fiction writer, and travel writer. The author of 35 books of poetry, fiction and travel writing, McFadden started publishing poetry in 1958 and has been previously shortlisted for the 2008 Griffin Poetry Prize, as well as for three Governor General's Awards. He won the 2013 Griffin Poetry Prize for his collection What's the Score?

Reviews

[James Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

These poems are personal, self-effacing, conversational and always surprising. Though they sometimes seem absurd, McFadden approaches the bigger philosophical questions at a slant which appears innocent in its plainspokenness but which you realize is learned and understanding. The score of these poems is always even. The poet's straightforward language seems like he doesn't want to get ahead but the wisdom conveyed by the language makes you realize he'll never get behind either. Because they're so accessible and they speak to everyone of us, the depth of the individual poems may be tricky to hold until the end when we notice they sit heavy in the mind and McFadden has made sure we won. What's the Score? won the 2013 Griffin Prize, Canada's leading award for poetry.

[Jay Daze · Rating 3 out of 5]

What is the score? McFadden still has the charming voice, the persona of a witty raconteur. It seems like the work of a guy very relaxed in his work.

For example:

76. Clothes peg

Communication leads to living together.
Alternative energy leads to happiness.
A scrubdown each day keeps everything cozy.

I'm trying to get away from the Internet.
I always knew the tried and true won't do.
It's a lovely world but it's a rotten planet.


I've been away from poetry for a while and even when I was in it I had trouble with the skipping around from thought to thought - which is a part of the compression and the fun of it. McFadden is both extremely light on his feet and melancholy.