Jamie Sharpe

Assessing Literary Value

Sewer drains in Kitsilano
worth more

than alpine meadows
outside Merritt.

I fingerbanged
Douglas Coupland’s
second cousin.

    Nicola Naturalist Society’s
    book club

    open to anyone
    unwilling to surrender
    their flower.


Alaskan Socialite

Ran hot when markets
ran hot and drew millions
while you were undressed

by a bear. Now paid to say
the most efficient way
to lose. Now buys vital art.

Now a philanthropist
for dropping equal wealth
as dollars bequeathed

to Salvation Army Christmas
tins. In Katmai National Park
my pants dropped freely.

Jamie Sharpe is the author of three poetry collections, Animal Husbandry Today, Cut-up Apologetic, and Dazzle Ships. His fourth book, Everything You Hold Dear, is forthcoming from ECW Press next fall. He recently moved from Whitehorse to the Comox Valley.