Shaunt Basmajian
Shaunt Basmajian (30 September 1950 – 25 January 1990) was a Canadian poet and author.
Born in Beirut, Lebanon to Armenian parents, Basmajian emigrated to Canada when he was seven years old. He was a founder of the Canadian Poetry Association, co-founder of Old Nun Publications (with Ted Plantos), and was a member of the Parliament Street Library poetry group.[1] The Shaunt Basmajian Chapbook Award, given annually to a Canadian poet, was established in his memory. The contest ran from 1996-2008.
In 1986, he was attacked with a knife and robbed while he was driving a taxi. His right lung was punctured when a robber stabbed him.[2]
[edit] Sample poem
"I read the paper / and stay awake all night / writing poems / trying to forget everything / dreaming of a new world / a solution / an answer / in the aftermath"
—Shaunt Basmajian, excerpt from "On That Other Day In The Life Of Arto Sarkissian," Poets Who Don't Dance, 1985.
[edit] Bibliography
- Surplus Waste and Other Poems - 1982
- Poets Who Don't Dance - 1985 [3]
- Biased Analogies - 1988
[edit] References
- ^ "Shaunt Basmajian won acclaim as poet". The Toronto Star: pp. A.16. January 29, 1990. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/471463031.html?dids=471463031:471463031&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jan+29%2C+1990&author=&pub=Toronto+Star&desc=Shaunt+Basmajian+won+acclaim+as+poet&pqatl=google. Retrieved December 1, 2009.
- ^ Thomas, Jocko (September 19, 1986). "Cab driver's lung punctured in $80 Scarborough holdup". The Toronto Star: p. A.8. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/475440871.html?dids=475440871:475440871&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Sep+19%2C+1986&author=Jocko+Thomas+Toronto+Star&pub=Toronto+Star&desc=Cab+driver%27s+lung+punctured+in+%2480+Scarborough+holdup&pqatl=google. Retrieved December 1, 2009.
- ^ McAllister, Lesley (December 27, 1986). "Heading straight for the heart of it (Review of Poets Who Don't Dance )". The Toronto Star: p. G.19. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/475719301.html?dids=475719301:475719301&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Dec+27%2C+1986&author=Lesley+McAllister&pub=Toronto+Star&desc=Heading+straight+for+the+heart+of+it&pqatl=google. Retrieved December 1, 2009.
