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14: Fall 2011

The word obsessions often comes with negative connotations. It’s not healthy to have obsessions (think OCD, hoarders, or stalkers). But where would we be without them?

Ainsley Olsen
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Pieces ~ obsessions

Michelle Barker
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My Constant Companion

We listened to talk shows
and requiems,
chatted about acid rain,
flirted a little.

Julie Mahfood
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Constraint on An Uneasy Sea ~ obsessions

A maze
cannot navigate. To slough off:
like skin cells, turn from a fine

powder, into into earth into sand
into skin oil and light. Burn.

Rusty Morrison
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Commonplace (2)

A perfected balance achieved in sleep
can sometimes twist up through wakefulness
its delicate wire and weight contraption.

Rusty Morrison
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Commonplace (3)

A child-like willingness today
was, only yesterday, an embryo
in the womb of my resistance.

Lesley Pasquin
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Motherhood ~ obsessions

herbs bought in the throes of
gourmet dinner clubs now shriveled in their
glass bottles, a litmus for the total
disinterest in anything to do with food.

José-Flore Tappy
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From Wandering Mortal

seeking a sign
that has survived nothingness
a lost toy
or simple earthen potsherd

Post navigation

14 | Fall 2011

Audio

  • audio iconBruno  Cristal Duhaime

Editor's Note

  • On Obsessions – Editor’s Note  

Comics

  • A Sunset  Daniel Ha
  • Pieces ~ obsessions  Ainsley Olsen

Fiction

  • Pastel Fear  Raymond Bock, translated by Pablo Strauss
  • Ticks  Clint Walker
  • Eight O’clock  Jaclyn Watterson
  • Jolly Trolley  Kathleen Winter

Nonfiction

  • Eating Beets During Menopause ~ obsessions  Donna Caruso
  • How to Stop a Suicide  Cynthia Dockrell
  • Always into you, all ways ~ obsessions  AC Fraser
  • The Perfect Day  Kathy Page
  • I (heart) Mr. Spock ~ obsessions  Janet Smith

Photography

  • Paired  Aurora Ira

Poetry

  • My Constant Companion  Michelle Barker
  • Constraint on An Uneasy Sea ~ obsessions  Julie Mahfood
  • Commonplace (2)  Rusty Morrison
  • Commonplace (3)  Rusty Morrison
  • Motherhood ~ obsessions  Lesley Pasquin
  • From Wandering Mortal  José-Flore Tappy, translated by John Taylor

Q & A

  • carte blanche Q&A with Kathleen Winter  

What is carte blanche?

carte blanche is a volunteer, not-for-profit literary project published by the Quebec Writers’ Federation, with support from the Canada Council for the Arts and individual sponsors.

ISSN 1918-8137 © 2021 carte blanche.
All rights reserved.

The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed by the editors of carte blanche and by the writers who are published on its platform do not necessarily reflect the views of the management of the Quebec Writers’ Federation.

Thank you

Canada Council for the Arts Quebec Writer's Federation
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