Uploaded May 2021 | Updated September 2026, 19 hours ago
Our May Book of the Month feature is Iron Goddess of Mercy by Larissa Lai, a long poem that explores the complexities of Asian identity through the lens of rage and empowerment from Arsenal Pulp Press. For a special WOTS exclusive treat Larissa will give an extended reading of the poem, followed by a short Q&A with former parliamentary poet laureate Fred Wah.
Find the book at your favourite local bookstore, or with Arsenal Pulp
arsenalpulp.com/Books/I/Iron-Goddess-of-Mercy
Larissa Lai has written eight books, including The Tiger Flu and Iron Goddess of Mercy. Recipient of the Duggins Novelist's Prize, the Lambda Literary Award, and the Astraea Award, she holds a Canada Research Chair at the University of Calgary where she directs The Insurgent Architects' House for Creative Writing.
Fred Wah’s most recent project is a collaboration with Rita Wong about the Columbia River, beholden: a poem as long as the river. Scree: The Collected Earlier Poems, 1962-1991 was published in 2015. High Muck a Muck: Playing Chinese, An Interactive Poem, is available online (highmuckamuck.ca/). Music at the Heart of Thinking: Improvisations 1-170 was published by Talon in 2020. He lives in Vancouver and on Kootenay Lake.
Check out other great titles from Arsenal Pulp here:
arsenalpulp.com
To support The Word On The Street Toronto, please consider making a donation at toronto.thewordonthestreet.ca
Our May Book of the Month feature is Iron Goddess of Mercy by Larissa Lai, a long poem that explores the complexities of Asian identity through the lens of rage and empowerment from Arsenal Pulp Press. For a special WOTS exclusive treat Larissa will give an extended reading of the poem, followed by a short Q&A with former parliamentary poet laureate Fred Wah.
Find the book at your favourite local bookstore, or with Arsenal Pulp
arsenalpulp.com/Books/I/Iron-Goddess-of-Mercy
Larissa Lai has written eight books, including The Tiger Flu and Iron Goddess of Mercy. Recipient of the Duggins Novelist's Prize, the Lambda Literary Award, and the Astraea Award, she holds a Canada Research Chair at the University of Calgary where she directs The Insurgent Architects' House for Creative Writing.
Fred Wah’s most recent project is a collaboration with Rita Wong about the Columbia River, beholden: a poem as long as the river. Scree: The Collected Earlier Poems, 1962-1991 was published in 2015. High Muck a Muck: Playing Chinese, An Interactive Poem, is available online (highmuckamuck.ca/). Music at the Heart of Thinking: Improvisations 1-170 was published by Talon in 2020. He lives in Vancouver and on Kootenay Lake.
Check out other great titles from Arsenal Pulp here:
arsenalpulp.com
To support The Word On The Street Toronto, please consider making a donation at toronto.thewordonthestreet.ca
