George Bowering - 12 March 2026

My Valencia,Spain educated grandmother often told me, “Más sabe el diablo por viejo que por diablo.” That translates to, “The devil knows more not because he is the devil but because he is an old man.”

George Bowering, the First Canadian Parliamentary Poet Laureate (2002-2004) who was 90 this past December, is ample proof on my grandmother’s wisdom. Consider that at his age he is about to publish a book of his memories of having lived in Mexico – Barefoot Gringo (UBC Press - May 12) and a book of poetry – Pearl (Talon – Mar 31).

Because we have been friends for many years I know that his Mexican Spanish is good. Speaking Spanish at his home yesterday in the company of his wife, Jean Baird, for me was a pleasure.

On December 1^st I went to Mexico City to photograph a 91-year-old blind photographer, Pedro Meyer who is actively publishing books and taking photographs as he can discern light and movement. I took my Asahi Pentax S-3 film camera that I bought used in Mexico City in 1962. The idea was to take the camera to it source. I photographed him with a softbox flash. The experience of finding inspiration in a man older than I am, pushed me to pursue the idea of taking portraits of Bowering with the same camera. 

Because I was keen on taking his portrait and assembling my equipment I did not listen well when he told me that he had found a different way of writing poetry. But I did hear that the cover for Barefoot Gringo is his photograph. And because his Mexican Spanish is good he pronounces correctly the knife’s name “machete” and not “mashete.”

To be published May 12 - UBC Press

While there, Jean Baird clued me in on something I had no knowledge of. She talked about the Al Purdy A-frame Association project. The house on the water where Purdy lived at one time was going to be torn down. It has been saved and when it was raised from the ground for repairs, Baird told me that they then built a new basement. Now the house is used for writers-in-residence. I gather that Baird was a tad shy about telling me how active she was and is with the project.

The Al Purdy A-Frame Association

I asked Baird and Bowering to provide me with either a first paragraph or a last one from the the Barefoot Gringo. Before I purchase a book I always look at those two paragraphs. With mystery novels I avoid that last one!

Here is the last paragraph of Barefoot Gringo

and eating no chocolates. I had apparently got myself in danger with dehydration, being an old guy and all. I recovered slowly from that, and went back to my usual collection of illnesses and imperfections. I also, for a while, continued the habit I’d acquired down south – once every so often I would sit idle instead of writing or reading, which coincidentally was the title of my new book.

Oh, little waves

coming to the beach

at La Manzanilla,

I will miss you.

Oh, big round planet,

I will miss you.

Because my nickname for Bowering is “The Great Contrarian” I was not surprised at his reaction when I placed his hand over his heart for my portrait. He said, “Alex that is not my heart, that’s my pacemaker, my heart is further down.”

 George Bowering - The Great Contrarian