Canadian poet Ronna Bloom has released her latest collection, "In A Riptide," through Brick Books in 2025, offering readers a deeply contemplative examination of death, existence, and the human need to make sense of the inevitable.
The collection arrives at a time when contemporary poetry continues to grapple with questions of mortality and meaning, and Bloom's voice adds a distinctive perspective to this ongoing literary conversation. Her work has long been recognised for its willingness to confront difficult subjects with both intellectual rigour and emotional honesty.
In her review, critic Vivian Hansen draws particular attention to Bloom's exploration of death, describing it as an act of honour. The review suggests that Bloom approaches this universal subject not with fear or avoidance but with a courage that invites readers to confront their own relationship with finitude. Hansen writes that we all come late to understanding death, implying that Bloom's poetry offers a kind of guide or companion for that long-delayed reckoning.
The term "lolograssing" referenced in the review appears to be a word coined or prominently featured in the collection itself, suggesting Bloom's engagement with neologism and linguistic play even while handling weighty philosophical territory. The concept seems to sit alongside the larger meditation on mortality, pointing toward a poetry that refuses easy binaries between seriousness and playfulness.
Brick Books, an independent press based in Toronto known for its commitment to innovative and boundary-pushing poetry, has built a strong reputation for publishing works that challenge conventional forms and themes. "In A Riptide" continues that tradition, positioning Bloom as a poet willing to navigate uncomfortable emotional waters.
Critics and poetry enthusiasts who followed Bloom's earlier collections will find this new release an important addition to her growing body of work. The collection is expected to spark discussion in literary circles across Canada and beyond, particularly among readers drawn to poetry that refuses to look away from life's most profound questions.
Reviews of the collection are beginning to circulate, with initial responses highlighting Bloom's sustained commitment to honest emotional exploration and her willingness to let her poems sit with uncertainty rather than forcing premature resolution.
