Literary Refractions Literary Refractions

In her 1988 essay entitled “how i got saved,” Di Brandt evocatively described In her 1988 essay entitled “how i got saved,” Di Brandt evocatively described the southern Mennonite world in which she grew up as “the real the southern Manitoba Mennonite world in which she grew up as “the real world of flower gardens & apple trees & green villages with names like world of flower gardens & apple trees & green villages with names like Blumenort & Rosengart & Schoenwiese.”1 In a “personal statement” that Blumenort & Rosengart & Schoenwiese.”1 In a “personal statement” that appeared in Prairie Fire in 1990, she wrote: “sometimes i long to go back to appeared in Prairie Fire in 1990, she wrote: “sometimes i long to go back to my grandmother’s garden, filled with gooseberries & strawberries & blackberries my grandmother’s garden, filled with gooseberries & strawberries & blackberries & crab-apples & rhubarb & red currants & blue currants & raspberries & & crab-apples & rhubarb & red currants & blue currants & raspberries & blackberries. . .”2 Her second collection of poetry, Agnes in the sky, also blackberries. . .”2 Her second collection of poetry, Agnes in the sky, also published in 1990, opens innocently enough with: “so this is the world & here published in 1990, opens innocently enough with: “so this is the world & here i am,” and goes on to make references to “acid rain & the hole above Antarctica” i am,” and goes on to make references to “acid rain & the hole above Antarctica” and “the slow dying of the earth.”3 Brandt’s powerful poetry has always and “the slow dying of the earth.”3 Brandt’s powerful poetry has always demonstrated a richly-textured awareness of and concern for the natural world. demonstrated a richly-textured awareness of and concern for the natural world. “What should we think,” she asked her largely female audience at a “What should we think,” she asked her largely female audience at a panel presentation on Canadian Literary Feminisms in Ottawa in 1998, “about panel presentation on Canadian Literary Feminisms in Ottawa in 1998, “about the fact that while we were so enthusiastically exploring our new-found or the fact that while we were so enthusiastically exploring our new-found or newly remembered women’s histories & woman-centred lives, the world newly remembered women’s histories & woman-centred lives, the world became a profoundly more polluted and dangerous place to live in. . . ?” became a profoundly more polluted and dangerous place to live in. . . ?” Once, she reminded her listeners, we had “a deep reverence for animals and Once, she reminded her listeners, we had “a deep reverence for animals and plants & the living earth. . . .”4 plants & the living earth. . . .”4 That Di Brandt the feminist should become Di Brandt the eco-feminist That Di Brandt the feminist should become Di Brandt the eco-feminist will not come as a surprise to regular readers of her work. What might be of will not come as a surprise to regular readers of her work. What might be of particular interest to readers of The Conrad Grebel Review is Brandt’s comments particular interest to readers of The Conrad Grebel Review is Brandt’s comments in an interview with Cecile Brisebois Guillemot published earlier this year, where in an interview with Cecile Brisebois Guillemot published earlier this year, where Brandt draws connections between the “‘pre-Renaissance’ Mennonite culture” Brandt draws connections between the “‘pre-Renaissance’ Mennonite culture” of her southern Manitoba Mennonite home and the “traditional independent of her southern Manitoba Mennonite home and the “traditional independent cultural and religious practices” of the Mennonites of the sixteenth century.5 cultural and religious practices” of the Mennonites of the sixteenth century.5 What follows is a suite of poems that gives expression to Brandt’s well- What follows is a suite of poems that gives expression to Brandt’s well- developed interest in environmentalism and anticipates, perhaps, her probing developed interest in environmentalism and anticipates, perhaps, her probing investigations into the history of ecological communities and of Mennonites’ investigations into the history of ecological communities and of Mennonites’ ecological thinking. ecological thinking.

Hildi Froese Tiessen, Literary Editor Hildi Froese Tiessen, Literary Editor 78 The Conrad Grebel Review 78 The Conrad Grebel Review

Notes Notes

1 Di Brandt, “how i got saved,” in Why I am a Mennonite: Essays on Mennonite Identity, ed. 1 Di Brandt, “how i got saved,” in Why I am a Mennonite: Essays on Mennonite Identity, ed. Harry Loewen (Kitchener,ON.: Herald Press, 1988), 27. Harry Loewen (Kitchener,ON.: Herald Press, 1988), 27. 2 Di Brandt, “[untitled statement],” Prairie Fire: A Special Issue on Mennonite Writing 11,2 2 Di Brandt, “[untitled statement],” Prairie Fire: A Special Issue on Mennonite Writing 11,2 (Summer 1990), ed. Hildi Froese Tiessen and Dale Boldt, 183. (Summer 1990), ed. Hildi Froese Tiessen and Dale Boldt, 183. 3 Di Brandt, Agnes in the sky (Winnipeg: Turnstone Press, 1990). 3 Di Brandt, Agnes in the sky (Winnipeg: Turnstone Press, 1990). 4 Di Brandt, “Shapeshifting Strategies for the New Millennium,” Contemporary Verse 2 22,4 4 Di Brandt, “Shapeshifting Strategies for the New Millennium,” Contemporary Verse 2 22,4 (Spring 2000), 63, 65. (Spring 2000), 63, 65. 5 Di Brandt in Cecile Brisebois Guillemot, “Wild Mother Dancing: An Interview with Di Brandt,” 5 Di Brandt in Cecile Brisebois Guillemot, “Wild Mother Dancing: An Interview with Di Brandt,” Contemporary Verse 2 23,4 (Spring 2001), 7. Contemporary Verse 2 23,4 (Spring 2001), 7.

Di Brandt is a graduate of Canadian Mennonite Bible College (BTh), University Di Brandt is a graduate of Canadian Mennonite Bible College (BTh), (MA), and (BA, PhD). Her several volumes of of Toronto (MA), and University of Manitoba (BA, PhD). Her several volumes of poetry – questions i asked my mother (1987), Agnes in the sky (1990), mother, not poetry – questions i asked my mother (1987), Agnes in the sky (1990), mother, not mother (1992), Jerusalem, beloved (1995) – have been applauded by critics and mother (1992), Jerusalem, beloved (1995) – have been applauded by critics and nominated for numerous significant literary awards. Since 1997 she has taught nominated for numerous significant literary awards. Since 1997 she has taught creative writing and at the University of Windsor. creative writing and Canadian literature at the University of Windsor.