Brick Books 50th Anniversary: Brilliant and Timeless Books to Take Another Look At—Why I Was Late

Alive and Thriving for 50 Years

Founded in 1975 by poets Don McKay and Stan Dragland, Brick Books is marking its 50^th anniversary in 2025. Keeping a poetry-only small press not only alive but thriving for fifty years in a capitalist culture is an unlikely feat, and we’re in the mood to celebrate. One of the ways we’ll be celebrating throughout the year is by publishing a series of blogposts by Canadian poets reflecting on titles from our backlist—brilliant and timeless books we’d love readers to take another look at.

For the next in our series of blog posts highlighting important titles from our backlist, we feature veteran Spoken Word artist Charlie Petch’s Why I Was Late. Petch’s debut collection of poems offers witness to a decades-long trans/personal coming of age, finding heroes in unexpected places. A poet so good at drag they had everyone convinced that they were a woman for the first forty years of their life, Petch has somehow brought the stage and its attendant thrills into the book, and though it was published in 2021, it couldn’t be more timely. We celebrate it with an appreciation written by one of the book’s editors, the wonderful poet and performer Andrea Thompson.

Why I Was Late

by Andrea Thompson

Charlie Petch’s poetry collection, Why I Was Late burst onto the Can Lit landscape with a splash, earning rave reviews and a coveted 2022 ReLit Award. A celebrated spoken word poet and performer, Petch released this debut collection after years of success as an artist on stage, yet it is on the page that we get to see the full range of their poetic talent.

Petch offers us intimate insight into their hard earned “transilience.” This emotional strength is revealed with unapologetic transparency through poems that seamlessly combine perceptive compassion with impeccable comedic timing. Re-reading this collection three years later, I am struck by the sheer force of empathy encompassed in its pages. Through poetic prowess punctuated by wit and wisdom, Petch is the ultimate underdog champion.

In crisp, clear lines Petch embraces us as, almost as kin. Everyone is included, is worthy of love and recognition. Petch cleverly animates cultural icons to explore the concept of otherness – from the not-quite-human C3PO and Chewbacca of Star Wars to misunderstood men from the uber-masculine arenas of boxing and wrestling matches, Petch reminds us of the need to centre our perspective through the lens of tenderness.

With a lyrically powered mission to both achieve and celebrate human connection, Petch’s poetry says emphatically: I see you. Each page of Why I Was Late is imbued with a poetic voice that charms with a street-smart, yet vulnerable, kitchen-table candor. Petch draws us in, shows us the superhero, the hotdog vendor, the robot, and Wookie inside us all.

It was a joy to watch this book take shape and witness Petch’s effective methodology in making each poem perform on the page. From line breaks to stage direction, the text of this book deconstructs the notion of poetry in print, and recreates the powerful imaginative space of live performance.

 Through this brilliant approach, Petch offers readers poems that re-invent convention. Why I Was Late takes us on an emotionally rich journey through terrains of heartbreaking loss, humour, dark human psychology, social taboos, and gender politics. Petch’s work is pitch perfect – offering an adept emotional balance while turning familiar themes and traditions on their heads.

With unflinching honesty and fierce tenderness, Petch invites us in, sits us down, and makes us friend. In a time when human existence has become mind-bogglingly, complex, Petch’s poetic brings us back down to earth, with open-hearted poems that celebrate the courage it takes to learn “the terrible art / of how to walk tall / on stolen land” with unapologetic authenticity and love.

Support Brick Books into its next 50 years

Looking to nourish your poetic spirit and become part of a literary legacy? Consider supporting Brick Books through our Annual Subscription. Learn more here.