Heart of Goodness / Du coeur à l'âme: The Life of Marguerite Bourgeoys in 30 poems / La vie de Marguerite Bourgeoys en 30 poèmes

Carolyne Van Der Meer

Guernica Editions (Guernica World Editions), Fall 2020

88 pages

Trade Paperback

ISBN13: 9781771836395

ISBN10: 1771836393

English, French

Translated from the English

$20.00 Canada, $17.95 US, £11.95 UK

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In 1653, Marguerite Bourgeoys arrived in New France, determined to bring faith to the developing Ville-Marie community and education to the young women of the colony (now Montreal). Carolyne Van Der Meer delves into the heart and mind of Marguerite Bourgeoys and, through poetry, explores the hopes and challenges she faced as she established the Congrégation de Notre-Dame. These poems, originally written in English, have been translated by the author into Bourgeoys' native French, thus bringing to life the aspirations of this extraordinary woman who changed history.

1653, Marguerite Bourgeoys s'établit en Nouvelle-France déterminée à transmettre la foi aux habitants de Ville-Marie et à donner une education aux jeunes femmes de la colonie. Carolyne Van Der Meer se glisse dans la tête et le coeur de Marguerite Bourgeoys pour partager, à travers sa poésie, les espoirs et les défis qui se présentent au moment d'établir la Congrégation de Notre-Dame. Ces poèmes, d'abord écrits en anglais, ont été traduits par l'autrice en français, langue maternelle de Marguerite Bourgeoys, rapportant ainsi les aspirations de cette femme qui a marqué l'Histoire.

Those Carmelites / didn't want me / I won't give up / my gift to God / my only mission / If it's not in the cloister / it'll be somewhere else / He'll take me / even if they won't

Poetry transcends the limits of language. Sometimes it is explosive in the spaces between words, sometimes moving, sometimes contemplative. Heart of Goodness by Carolyne Van Der Meer is all three. The explanatory subtitle, “The Life of Marguerite Bourgeoys in 30 Poems” (1620 -1700),” defines the poet's context but by no means limits the content. With an austere economy of language and in the spaces around her words on the page, she conveys the essence of an astonishing life. This is not a devotional or visionary poem (the separate poems are really stanzas in a singular work). It is a compassionate revelation, a poem exploring the psyche a woman whose devotion and vision inspired her to great works on behalf of other women. As a committed atheist, I found it a heartfelt joy to read. Face to face translations, French and English, create inspired echoes bound to resound. Long after the book is set down, the title character remains with us.

John Moss

Carolyne Van Der Meer has written a fine book that exhibits sharp insights into the life of Marguerite Bourgeoys. The craft is evocative, rich with images and employs a spot on pace and tone. Readers will be enthralled by this portrait of sacrifice, faith, strength and love.

Michael Carrino, author of By Available Light, New and Selected Poems, Some Rescues and Café Sonata

I found myself deeply moved by this collection: won over by Van Der Meer’s clean, crisp, contemporary sentences that sing with empathy and paint a powerful picture of a historical figure who possessed a seemingly unbending devotion to the betterment of women. I set skepticism aside—a leap of faith, if you will—and emerged on the other end of Heart of Goodness feeling remarkably… healed.

Joshua Levy, Ottawa Review of Books

Heart of Goodness is for anyone seeking a spiritual top up, or a quiet, yet enthralling read away from the headline busy world. It is of course for those interested in missionary life, the New World and History. The thirty poems appear in both English and French which is a great boon to students of language. Congratulation to Carolyne on a finely crafted and ecumenically valuable work.

Orla Fay, Blogger

Carolyne Van Der Meer’s achievement in these poems is to capture the essence of this remarkable seventeenth-century woman, humble but fiercely determined. She allows us a glimpse into Marguerite Bourgeoys’ soul, to appreciate her deep spirituality and her practicality in 30 intricately-crafted poems which, pared-down and polished, shine like their subject with sincerity, originality and fidelity to essential truths.

Michael Farry, author of Asking for Directions, The Age of Glass and Troubles

Awards

The Word Guild — Specialty category (shortlisted)
Catholic Media Association's Book Awards — Poetry category, 2nd Place

Reviews

Heart of Goodness
Ottawa Review of Books - December 8, 2020
Heart of Goodness
Orla Fay Blog - October 17, 2020
Michael Farry Reviews Heart of Goodness
Michael Farry's Blog - August 15, 2020

Books by Carolyne Van Der Meer

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