Richard Harrison

Richard Harrison is the author of six books of poetry, among them Hero of the Play (Wolsak & Wynn, 1994 and 2004), poems on hockey, and Big Breath of a Wish, poems on the learning of language, which was nominated for the Governor-General's Award for poetry. His most recent book, launched at the 2005 Calgary WordFest, is Worthy of His Fall, a political, religious and personal meditation on faith and violence. Internationally published, his poetry has been translated into French, Portuguese, Spanish and Arabic. In the Department of English, Richard teaches Creative Writing and is, as well, one of the instructors co-teaching a course on Comics and Graphic Novels. Richard’s essays on poetry, hockey and the comic book have appeared in many journals, and he was recently one of the commentators on the CBC’s “Hockey: A People’s History” miniseries. Richard has been teaching at Mount Royal University for ten years, and he can often be found on the basketball court.

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"Comic Talks!"

In August of 2005, more than two dozen Alberta writers, artists and academics discussed the medium of comics in a series of six "Comic Talks" panels. The dialogue started then continues in this collection of stories, artwork and essays by people who know exactly what comics mean to them. Comic Talks, with contributions by Richard Harrison.

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"Going Top Shelf - An Anthology of Canadian Poetry"

"In this anthology, poets are really assuming their duty towards our great game; they remember and they celebrate it. After reading this anthology, put it under your pillow; it will give you beautiful dreams!"
- Roch Carrier, author of The Hockey Sweater Going Top Shelf

- An Anthology of Canadian Poetry, with contributions by Richard Harrison

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"Fathers Never Leave You"

Published 1989 Winner of the Silver Medal "Milton Acorn Prize"

"I have just reread, and not for the last time, Richard Harrison's 'Fathers Never Leave You'. There is a unique and undeniably authoritative voice defining itself here... This is particularly satisfying volume because the poet has so thoroughly explored fatherhood in all its unexpected varieties and multifold implications... I don't feel that I have to predict anything for Richard Harrison, only to thank him for having arrived."

- Adele Wiseman

"Read this book and benefit from a thoughtful young poet with the emotional range of a mature one; you will discover that new man who writes not to his audience, but for them."

- Mary di Michele

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"Big Breath of a Wish" 1998

Richard captures with elegance, grace and candor the first year of his daughter's life. Through precise, tautly shaped poems we get to hear her voice develop from sound to syllable to sentence, experiencing along with her the very shaping of self.

Nominated for the Governor General's Award for Poetry, 1999; Winner of the City of Calgary "W.O. Mitchell Book Prize", 1999; Winner of the "Staff Stefanson" prize for poetry.

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"Hero of the Play" - 10th Anniversary Edition 2004

His latest release, the 10th Anniversary Edition of his best-selling book of hockey poems, Hero of the Play, includes the introductory essay, "Ten Years With the Hero" as well as new hockey poems written over the last decade.

"Richard Harrison loves hockey. But Hero of the Play is more than a reflection on a sport; hockey provides Harrison with characters who speak to all of us about our lives, our loves, our culture. Even if you're not a fan of the game, there's something to be experienced in his work."

— Adrienne Clarkson

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Worthy of His Fall (2005)

Governor General Award-nominated poet Richard Harrison’s latest collection is a meditation on fathers, fatherhood, God and war. Powerful images of aging and death are cut with bright slivers of childhood, all set against the backdrop of the war in Iraq, and the questions war and death raise. Harrison’s transparent verse and beautiful ability to capture the voices around him draw the reader into what may be his best collection yet.