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Last year I wrote of seeing an article on CNNGO, out of Hong Kong, about someone finding a compass and inside was a copy of my poem "The Compass". This was news to me! I suppose whoever copied my poem found it on my website, www.stephenmorrissey.ca.
Last January I received an email from French author Ann Scott. A friend of hers had returned several years ago from a trip to Bangladesh and, as a present, given her a compass, the same one with my poem in it. This compass was purchased in Bangladesh! Ann wanted to know if I was the poet and, if so, did I want the actual compass? Immediately, I said I wanted the compass. A few weeks later I received a parcel in the mail containing the compass. Thank you, Ann!! I appreciate it!!
Someone (it was Richard Olafson of Ekstasis Editions) mentioned to me that poetry has a life of its own, and it does. Perhaps there are many copies of the compass out there, decorated strangely with a picture of St. Thomas More on the lid, with my sexy poem inside. A strange combination, indeed.
How a poem travels. From Montreal to Hong Kong, to Bangladesh and then to Paris, and then back home to Montreal. Around the world in several years time.
Welcome home, compass. Any more compass sightings out there?
