Spell World Backwards by Bren Simmers
Spell World Backwards was inspired by poet's mother's experience with Alzheimer's
P.E.I. writer Bren Simmers has won the 2022 CBC Poetry Prize for Spell World Backwards.
She will receive $6,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts, attend a two-week writing residency at the Banff Centre for the Arts and Creativity and her work has been published on CBC Books.
LISTEN | Bren Simmers on winning the 2022 CBC Poetry Prize:
Simmers is the author of four books, including the wilderness memoir Pivot Point and Hastings-Sunrise, which was a finalist for the Vancouver Book Award. Her most recent collection of poetry is If, When. She was previously longlisted for the CBC Poetry Prize in 2013 for I Blame MASH For My Addiction To MLS and in 2012 for Science Lessons.
Spell World Backwards was inspired by Simmers' mother's experience with Alzheimer's, she told CBC Books.
LISTEN | Bren Simmers' interview on On The Coast with Gloria Macarenko
My mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2017. As I started writing about her deterioration, I became interested in how language is affected by the disease.- Bren Simmers
"My mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2017. As I started writing about her deterioration, I became interested in how language is affected by the disease," she said.
"In this series, I try to mimic some of the looping, nonsense words and holes in her speech. As she progresses into late-stage Alzheimer's, it has become increasingly difficult to communicate with her, outside of touch. She still loves to dance though!"
LISTEN | Bren Simmers' interview on Mainstreet PEI with Matt Rainnie
You can read Spell World Backwards below.
Read the other finalists
- From the Mouth by Rachel Lachmansingh (Toronto)
- To the Astronaut Who Hopes Life on Another Planet Will Be More Bearable by Brad Aaron Modlin (Guelph, Ont.)
- Mouth Prayers by Luka Poljak (Vancouver)
- Grief white by Kerry Ryan (Winnipeg)
LISTEN | Bren Simmers' interview on As It Happens:
About the 2022 CBC Poetry Prize
The winner of the 2022 CBC Poetry Prize will receive $6,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts, have their work published on CBC Books and attend a two-week writing residency at the Banff Centre for the Arts and Creativity. Four finalists will each receive $1,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts and have their work published on CBC Books.
The 2023 CBC Nonfiction Prize will open in January. The 2023 CBC Poetry Prize will open in April.
