Divorce, Treaty, and Expulsion in B.W. Powe's "The Unsaid Passing"

Abstract

A close reading of a series of poems by contemporary poet, novelist, and political theorist B. W. Powe reveals a subtle theory of single parenthood and divorce. A three-part literary conceit by Powe is analyzed for its comparison between divorce, treaty, and biblical themes of expulsion. Inferences are drawn about the effect of legally structured relationships in Canadian families after divorce. Leaving aside discussions from law and literature, further conclusions are considered about the usefulness of close readings of Canadian poetry to ethnographic law and society research. Suggestions are made for enlarging the critical research tools available to Canadian legal consciousness research by engaging some Canadian poetry.