Live at the Hibou

Irving Layton was born on March 12, 1912 in Romania and moved to Montreal, Quebec in 1913. "Irving Layton at Le Hibou" was Layton's first recording and was recorded at Le Hibou, a second-floor Ottawa, Ontario coffee house. The album featured a live reading of selected poems, mostly from the book of collected poems "A Red Carpet for the Sun", which was published on McClelland & Stewart in 1958 (sold 5000 copies and won the first Governor General's Award in 1959).

Layton released 3 LP's and 11 cassettes between 1963 and 1990. "Irving Layton Live at Le Hibou" on Posterity PTR 13001 in 1963; "Layton Reads His Own" on Caedmon ML 7002 in 1971; and "Layton Reads Layton" on Satelite Sound SL 226 in 1981.

Irving Layton died on January 4, 2006.

The Improved Binoculars (1956)

Below me the city was in flames:
the firemen were the first to save
themselves. I saw steeples fall on their knees.

I saw an agent kick the charred bodies
from an orphanage to one side, marking
the site for a future speculation.

Lovers stopped short of the final spasm
and went off angrily in opposite directions,
their elbows held by giant escorts of fire.

Then the dignitaries rode across the bridges
under an auricle of light which delighted them,
nothing for later punishment those that went before.

And the rest of the populace, their mouths
distorted by an unusual gladness, bawled thanks
to this comely and ravaging ally, asking

Only for more light with which to see
their neighbour's destruction.

All this I saw through my improved binoculars.

The Way of the World

It has taken me long, Lygdamus,

to learn that humans, barring

a few saints, are degenerate

or senseless

The senseless ones are never by design

evil; but get in your way

like the ugly stumps of trees; order

bad taste or out of boredomstart long wars

where one's counted on

to dredge up manliness, fortitude, and valour

for their stupefactions.

But wicked are the clever ones.

Cultured and adept

they will seduce a friend's dear one

with praises of her husband on their lips.

As for the wife

a little alcohol parts her thighs.

Do not blame her: her husband's name

on the seducer's lips

makes her the eagerer to satisfy,

teaches her she lies with her very spouse.

And that way is best: no pricks of inwit,

but the novelty's stab of pleasure is there.

Therefore give me only lovers.

Come, my latest one, sloe-eyed,

your firm breasts whirling like astonished globes

before my eyes cross-eyed with lust;

though my legs are bandy

the heart's stout

and this provocative member smooth and unwrinkled.

Till the morning parts us, I'll lie beside you

your nipple at my tired mouthand one hand of mine

on your black curling fleece.

On Being Bitten by a Dog

A doctor for mere lucre
performed an unnecessary operation
making my nose nearly
as crooked as himself

Another for a similar reason
almost blinded me

A poet famous
for his lyrics of love
and renunciation
toils at the seduction of my wife

And the humans who would like to kill me
are legion

Only once have I been bitten by a dog

Bargain

In Fourteen Years of Married Bliss

Not Once Have I Been disloyal to my wife

And you I am told are still a virgin

If you are set to bargain your maiden-head

for my unheard of fidelity

call between 3 and 5 tomorrow

and it is done

-Robert Williston